Politics

REPORT: Rogue Federal Judge Repeatedly Smirked, Rolled His Eyes While Berating Trump Admin In Court

Published

6 days ago

April 3, 2025

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee who has attempted to thwart the Trump Administration’s deportation plans through judicial overreach, repeatedly “smirked” and rolled his eyes at DOJ lawyers who were arguing their case on Thursday, according to courtroom reporter Julie Kelly.

Boasberg — who placed a restraining order on Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and attempted to order planes carrying dangerous gang members to turn around midair — reportedly threatened to hold administration officials in contempt of court for defying the impossible order. Boasberg pressed Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign in court on Thursday, repeatedly claiming that the government ignored his emergency injunction that was issued last month.

The administration has appealed the underlying case to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the activist judge is weighing whether there is probable cause to move forward with contempt proceedings.

“After quite the performance, Jeb Boasberg says he believes probable cause exists to initiate contempt proceedings against Trump [administration] for disobeying his ‘oral ruling’ to return planes March 15,” Kelly wrote in an X post. “He is on a massive power trip and shocking to watch while Congress does nothing.”

In a follow-up post, Kelly noted that the judge displayed visible signs of bias throughout the tense hearing. “What didn’t come across on audio line was Boasberg’s physical theatrics. Glasses on and off, scowling at DOJ lawyer over his glasses, rolling eyes, smirks, etc.,” Kelly reported. “Emmy award winning stuff.”

Boasberg (left) has claimed the Trump Administration ignored his “oral order” to turn around a deportation flight that was loaded with violent gang members

Boasberg said he would issue a decision as early as next week on how to proceed if he finds grounds to hold the administration in contempt, Fox News reported.

During the hearing, Ensign was repeatedly questioned about who in the Trump Administration had information about the deportation flights and when they took off for El Salvador on March 15. At least 261 migrants were deported that day, including more than 100 Venezuelan gang members who were subject to removal “solely on the basis” of the law temporarily blocked by the court.

“You maintain that the government was in full compliance with the court’s order on March 15, correct?” Boasberg asked Ensign. The DOJ lawyer answered in the affirmative, to which Boasberg replied, “It seems to me the government acted in bad faith that day.”

“If you really believed everything you did that day was legal and would survive a court challenge, you would not have operated the way that you did,” Boasberg said.

In addition to repeated questions about specifics regarding the flights and who in the administration had knowledge of the process, Boasberg also pressed over whether any related materials were classified. Government lawyers refused to share any information about the flights or the timeline of the deportation process, citing national security concerns.

“Can you think of one instance” where the state secrets privilege was invoked using unclassified info?” the judge asked Ensign. “Pretty sketchy,” the judge then said allowed as Ensign was answering the question.

The hearing was the latest in the ongoing legal saga over the president’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg told both sides he would see them again next week for arguments on the plaintiffs’ preliminary injunction motion, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Fox News reported.

President Trump has referred to Boasberg as an “activist” judge and has called for his impeachment.