Federal Judge Appointed by Trump Resigns from Association, Citing Hypocrisy Over Threat Statements

In a dramatic move, Judge James C. Ho, a federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump, has stepped down from the Federal Judges Association (FJA), accusing the organization of selective outrage regarding threats to judicial independence. The resignation was announced during a conservative Federalist Society event at the University of Michigan Law School on Saturday.

The controversy stems from a statement the 1,100-member FJA issued on March 5, condemning threats and violence against judges. The statement declared that "judges must be permitted to do their jobs without fear of violence or intimidation of any kind." But Judge Ho wasn’t buying it. He criticized the group for staying silent when conservative judges like Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh faced intense scrutiny and even threats, including an assassination attempt on Kavanaugh.

"I was very surprised by that statement," said Ho. "The next morning, I sent an email to the organization saying that I wanted to resign." He continued by pointing out the glaring lack of similar statements in previous years, despite escalating attacks on conservative members of the judiciary. Ho's sharp critique highlighted what he sees as the FJA's failure to stand up for judicial independence when the "shoe was on the other foot."

Ho argued that selective outrage undermines the credibility of the judiciary. "You can’t say that you’re in favor of judicial independence only when it comes to decisions that you like. That’s not protecting the judiciary, that’s politicizing the judiciary," he said. According to Ho, this pick-and-choose approach either reveals dishonesty or an alarming bias that some views are deemed unworthy of protection. Neither option, he noted, is a good look.

The FJA, led by President Judge J. Michelle Childs—appointed by President Joe Biden—had released a public statement emphasizing the importance of judicial independence and the threats facing federal judges. The statement didn’t name specific instances or judges but called recent events "a clear and urgent reminder" of the judiciary's critical role in upholding democracy. The group also warned against the dangers of "irresponsible rhetoric shrouded in disinformation" and emphasized the importance of judicial security for the rule of law.

For Ho, however, these words rang hollow. "What you may think is a statement born of righteousness I think is perceived by a lot of people as merely sanctimonious," he concluded.

This isn’t the first time the judiciary has been in the crosshairs of political tensions. Figures like Elon Musk, leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have recently called for "an immediate wave of judicial impeachments" against judges opposing the administration’s policies.

As the debate over judicial independence heats up, the FJA’s response—or lack thereof—will likely remain under scrutiny. Fox News Digital reached out to the association for comment, but no response was received at the time of publication.

For now, Judge Ho’s resignation serves as yet another flashpoint in the ongoing battle over the judiciary's role in an increasingly polarized political landscape.