The Department of Justice has filed an official complaint against US District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg, alleging he has made comments undermining the judiciary’s impartiality. The complaint, authored by Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle and directed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, was addressed to Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The DOJ asserts that Boasberg’s remarks, made at a Judicial Conference of the United States, were inappropriate and lacked any factual basis, as the Trump administration has consistently followed court orders.
Judge Boasberg, who is presiding over a high-profile case involving migrants deported to El Salvador, has also been critical of DOJ lawyers, accusing them of not following his orders regarding airborne planes. President Trump has previously criticized Boasberg, adding to the tension. The complaint details two instances where Boasberg allegedly made comments that the DOJ claims undermined judicial integrity. The first occurred on March 11, 2025, during the Judicial Conference where he expressed concerns about the Trump administration disregarding court rulings, despite the administration’s compliance with orders. The second instance came days later when Boasberg took actions based on his belief that the administration would not follow court orders, including issuing a temporary restraining order on a separate matter which was later vacated by the Supreme Court.
DOJ officials argue that these actions and statements violate the Canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, eroding public confidence in judicial neutrality. The complaint has been filed with Chief Judge Srinivasan, requesting a formal investigation to determine if Boasberg’s conduct constitutes