Over 75 ex-judges petition a Senate panel to thwart the confirmation of President Trump's judicial pick, Emil Bove.
Emil Bove, a former personal attorney to former President Donald Trump and a top Department of Justice (DOJ) official, is facing intense scrutiny ahead of his confirmation hearing for a federal appeals court vacancy. More than 75 former federal and state judges have called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Bove's nomination, citing allegations of intentional undermining of judicial authority, disregard for the rule of law, and advocating for ignoring legal constraints.
The core allegations against Bove focus on his role in the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement efforts. According to a whistleblower complaint and a recent letter from the former judges, Bove allegedly suggested that the administration should defy judicial rulings restricting its immigration enforcement efforts, showing a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
Furthermore, the letter from the former judges accuses Bove of plotting to have law enforcement disregard lawful court orders and engage in illegal actions to advance the administration's immigration crackdown. Internal DOJ messages illustrate that in response to a judge's order halting deportations, Bove reportedly uttered a profane statement about the court, signaling an abusive attitude toward judicial authority.
The allegations also include violations of laws and regulations and abuse of authority by DOJ personnel, which created substantial safety threats to noncitizens subject to deportation policies. The whistleblower, Erez Reuveni, has provided evidence and offered to testify under oath about Bove's alleged actions.
If confirmed, Bove would have the power to review federal cases being appealed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands. Controversies surrounding Bove's actions as a high-ranking Justice Department official over the past six months have been highlighted, including his role in dropping federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his involvement in investigating FBI and DOJ officials related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
The senator from North Carolina has stated that he would not support any nominees who expressed support for the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. However, Bove's nomination marks the first time President Trump has nominated one of his former lawyers for a federal judgeship.
The judges' letter argues that it is "deeply inappropriate" for a president to nominate their own former criminal defense attorney to serve on the federal bench. Several retired federal appeals court judges nominated by Republican presidents have signed the letter opposing Bove's nomination.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Bove's confirmation on Thursday. The group of judges who signed the letter emphasize the importance of Senators rigorously vetting nominees for lifetime federal judicial appointments. J. Michael Luttig, a Trump critic and a prominent conservative legal scholar, is among the judges who have signed the letter. Luttig endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris last year.
- The allegations against Emil Bove, if true, suggest a disregard for the rule of law and policy-and-legislation, as he reportedly advocated for defying judicial rulings and ignoring legal constraints during his time as a top Department of Justice (DOJ) official.
- The controversies surrounding Bove's actions extend beyond immigration enforcement, as he is also implicated in violations of laws and regulations, abuse of authority, and creating safety threats to noncitizens, according to a whistleblower complaint and former judges.
- Given the strong opposition from more than 75 former federal and state judges, the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote on Bove's confirmation for a federal appeals court vacancy comes at a critical juncture, as it raises concerns about the politicization of policy-and-legislation, war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice within the federal judicial system.
