On Friday, a group of retired judges will conclude a four-day bus tour through several key locations in the Rust Belt, including Ohio and Pennsylvania, aimed at raising awareness about judicial independence and the critical state of the rule of law in the United States. Their journey culminates at a library in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where they will convey a dire message regarding the erosion of trust in the American court system. This is part of the festivities marking the nation's 250th anniversary.
The judges’ concerns reflect a broader trend of declining confidence among Americans in both the judicial system and democracy itself. Recent years have seen increasing polarization across the country, exacerbated by public criticisms from high-profile figures, notably former President Donald Trump, who has frequently undermined the integrity of court decisions on various occasions. In phone interviews, some judges characterized the current moment as one of significant peril for the rule of law.
Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly stated, "This is a moment where we can decide to reinstill those beliefs that we are a country of laws and not of men." This perspective marks a departure from the typically reserved demeanor of judges, particularly federal ones, who generally refrain from public commentary outside the courtroom.
The "Justice in Motion" tour, inspired by a similar campaign in Poland, has seen judges engage directly with the public in various settings, such as courthouses and coffee shops. Former U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Roberts described a sense of lawlessness in today's climate, heightened by personal attacks on judges by prominent political figures. She plans to join the tour in Michigan to highlight these issues.
With rising instances of threats against federal judges, the U.S. Marshals Service reported a total of 564 threats made against judges in the most recent fiscal year, up from 509 the previous year. This alarming trend reflects an increasingly hostile environment for the judiciary, leading some judges to speak out against the politicization of their role. Timothy Lewis, another former federal judge, expressed his fears of "existential threats" to the judicial branch, linking his concerns to significant political events such as the 2016 refusal by Senate Republicans to consider President Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.
The tour commenced on Tuesday, beginning in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, known for its historical significance in the coal industry and civil rights movements. The judges engaged the public at various stops, including a coffee shop and the Westmoreland County Courthouse, before traveling to other significant areas like Washington, Pennsylvania, which holds historical relevance as a site on the Underground Railroad.
Subsequent stops included Columbus, Ohio, and Wooster, Ohio, a town known for its Amish community, before concluding in Cleveland and circling back to Michigan. Organizers aimed for maximum visibility and engagement in their efforts to rebuild trust in the judiciary, emphasizing that maintaining public confidence is vital for the legal system's health.
Notably, the judges represent a bipartisan coalition, and their public engagements include former political figures like former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett. Maureen O’Connor, a former chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, highlighted the importance of countering misinformation about judicial roles to prevent misunderstandings, as reflected in personal correspondences she received.
This concerted effort by retired judges signals a proactive approach to addressing the challenges facing judicial independence, aiming to foster a more informed public dialogue about the importance of the rule of law in American society.
