In a statement issued July 28, 2026, the American Bar Association condemned personal attacks on judges by government officials, pointing specifically to recent social media posts in which an administration official criticized judges by name. The ABA framed those posts as part of a broader pattern of threats, intimidation and personal attacks aimed at the judiciary, and drew a line between legitimate criticism and something more corrosive: disagreement with a ruling, the association said, is expected in a constitutional system and should be worked out through analysis, debate and the appellate process, while inflammatory rhetoric, baseless accusations and demands to remove judges over their decisions undermine public confidence in the courts and erode the rule of law. Judges, the ABA argued, need to be able to decide cases on the facts, the law and the Constitution without fearing for their own or their families’ safety, and the separation of powers depends on courts that can operate free of political pressure or retaliation. Calling judicial independence a nonpartisan cornerstone of democracy rather than a partisan cause, the statement urged public officials, lawyers and citizens alike to reject rhetoric that delegitimizes the judiciary, and specifically called on members of the legal profession to speak out in defense of courts and judges.

(Full statement at americanbar.org.)