WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan group of over 40 former federal and state judges has published an open letter condemning the Trump administration’s politicization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The judges express grave concern that President Trump has directed federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges against his critics and perceived political enemies. Among those now being prosecuted is former FBI Director James Comey, who will be arraigned tomorrow morning.

The signatories assert that Trump is forbidden from ordering the unfounded prosecution of his perceived political adversaries and denounce the firings of prosecutors who refused to pursue such baseless criminal charges.

“As a consequence of President Trump’s actions over the past nine months that he has been in the presidency, no American is safe from criminal prosecution, regardless of whether they have violated the law and regardless of their political or ideological views,” the letter reads. “For the first time in American history, the bedrock First Amendment right of American citizens to disagree with their president and their government and to express their views and opinions on any matter they wish — including their president — is under unprecedented attack by the President of the United States.”

The group, led by former U.S. Judge Nancy Gertner and Judge Michael Luttig, includes other former federal judges and state supreme court justices, as well as superior and circuit court judges from over 15 states including Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and others.

The full letter is HERE. 

The list of signers includes:

Judge Michael Luttig, U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Ret.)

Judge Nancy Gertner, U.S. District Judge, District of Massachusetts (Ret.)

Chief Justice Jeffrey Amestoy, Vermont Supreme Court (Ret.)

Chief Justice Thomas A. Balmer, Oregon Supreme Court (Ret.)

Chief Justice Michael L. Bender, Colorado Supreme Court (Ret.)

Associate Justice Margot Botsford, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (Ret.)

Chief Justice Walter L. Carpeneti, Alaska Supreme Court (Ret.)

Chief Judge Rubén Castillo, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Illinois (Ret.)

Judge Robert J. Cindrich, U.S. District Judge, Western District of Pennsylvania (Ret.)

Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Alabama Supreme Court (Ret.)

Judge Susan E. Cox, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Illinois (Ret.)

Judge Andre M. Davis, U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Ret.)

Judge Morton Denlow, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Illinois (Ret.)

Chief Judge William F. Downes, U.S. District Judge, District of Wyoming (Ret.)

Associate Justice Fernande R. V. Duffly, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (Ret.)

Judge David K. Duncan, U.S. Magistrate Judge, District of Arizona (Ret.)

Judge Gary A. Feess, U.S. District Judge, Central District of California (Ret.)

Judge James C. Francis IV, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Southern District of New York (Ret.)

Judge Steven M. Gold, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of New York (Ret.)

Judge A. Benjamin Goldgar, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Illinois (Ret.)

Judge Andrew J. Guilford, U.S. District Judge, Central District of California (Ret.)

Judge Thelton Henderson, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of California (Ret.)

Associate Justice Geraldine Hines, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (Ret.)

Associate Justice Robin E. Hudson, North Carolina Supreme Court (Ret.)

Judge John E. Jones III, U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania (Ret.)

Associate Justice Barbara A. Lenk, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (Ret.)

Judge Roanne L. Mann, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of New York (Ret.)

Judge John S. Martin Jr., U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York (Ret.)

Judge A. Howard Matz, U.S. District Judge, Central District of California (Ret.)

Chief Judge Paul Michel, U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Ret.)

Associate Justice James C. Nelson, Montana Supreme Court (Ret.)

Judge Kathleen O’Malley, U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

(Ret.)

Associate Justice Robert F. Orr, North Carolina Supreme Court (Ret.)

Chief Justice Barbara J. Pariente, Florida Supreme Court (Ret.)

Judge Shira A. Scheindlin, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York (Ret.)

Judge Fern M. Smith, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of California (Ret.)

Judge David S. Tatel, U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

Circuit (Ret.)

Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Iowa Supreme Court (Ret.)

Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie, U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Ret.)

Judge Ursula Ungaro, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Florida (Ret.)

Judge T. John Ward, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Texas (Ret.)

Judge Brian Owsley, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Southern District of Texas (Ret.)

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