Trump is waging an unprecedented campaign against legal institutions, targeting pillars of the judicial system through executive orders and social media attacks.
US Federal Judge Beryl Howell has revealed an orchestrated campaign of intimidation targeting members of the judiciary who rule against Trump administration policies, warning that judicial independence faces an unprecedented threat. Speaking publicly for the first time about the threats she has received, Judge Howell described how her decision to block parts of President Trump's executive order against law firm Perkins Coie has led to security concerns affecting both her professional and personal life. Who Is Speaking Out: Howell Leads Judicial Resistance 'What we're experiencing goes beyond disagreement with our rulings—it's an attempt to control judicial outcomes through fear,' Judge Howell told reporters yesterday. 'The pattern is unmistakable and deeply concerning.' The Washington DC district judge ruled on 12 March that Trump's executive order against Perkins Coie 'runs head-on into the wall of first amendment protections'. Since then, she has required enhanced security measures after receiving what she described as 'credible threats'. Three-tier Intimidation Strategy Several other federal judges have now come forward to corroborate Judge Howell's account, though most requested anonymity due to security concerns. They describe a three-tiered intimidation strategy: public criticism from President Trump, amplification by billionaire Elon Musk to his social media followers, and subsequent threats requiring security interventions. One judge, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted finding armed guards outside their home after ruling against a deportation order. 'My staff are afraid to come to work. This isn't normal political criticism—it's a deliberate attempt…