The American Bar Association responded to Elon Musk‘s calls to impeach justices by warning it was “unacceptable” and reaffirmed that the courts are a co-equal branch of government.
Federal judges have issued several pauses to actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency to cut waste in the federal government. Musk, who serves as President Donald Trump‘s DOGE head, has been vocal in his criticism through various posts on X, including calling for judges to be impeached.
“The only way to restore rule of the people in America is to impeach judges. No one is above the law, including judges,” Musk said in a post on Feb. 25.
“If ANY judge ANYWHERE can block EVERY Presidential order EVERYWHERE, we do NOT have democracy, we have TYRANNY of the JUDICIARY,” Musk said in a different post the same day.
ABA President William Bay issued a lengthy statement proclaiming that the organization “rejects efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.”
“High-ranking government officials (appointed and elected) have made repeated calls for the impeachment of judges who issue opinions with which the government does not agree. There have been calls to impeach ‘corrupt judges’ with no effort to produce evidence of the so called ‘corruption.’ These have been directed only at judges who have ruled against the government position,” the statement said.
“There have now been statements by officials criticizing judges for not following the will of the people. Judges swear oaths to follow the law, not public opinion polling or political chatter or what someone contends is the will of the people,” the lengthy statement continued.
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Bay also called on officials to stop making comments he claims are undermining the judiciary’s independence, saying it is a “co-equal branch of our government, and they must be treated that way.”
“The American Bar Association has chosen to stand and speak. Now is the time for all of us to speak with one voice. We invite you to stand with us,” Bay said.
