Judges Warn of 'Extraordinary Times' Amid Trump Defiance, Threats

Federal judges say they're trying to maintain normalcy as the Trump administration potentially defies court orders and threatens their safety.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:56pm

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A panel of sitting federal judges said they're trying to maintain normalcy in the face of the Trump administration's possible defiance of court orders and heightened threats to their personal safety. The judges discussed an increase in public contempt for not following the spirit of court orders and concerns that the executive branch would ignore judicial rulings.

Why it matters

This highlights growing tensions between the judicial and executive branches, with judges expressing worries about the potential for the Trump administration to defy court orders and the personal safety risks they face. It raises questions about the rule of law and the ability of the courts to check the power of the presidency.

The details

The judges, including Richard F. Boulware of the US District Court for the District of Nevada and André Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California, made their comments at a legal conference in San Diego. They said they are seeing an increase in public contempt for not following the spirit of court orders, and are concerned the executive branch may ignore judicial rulings.

  • The judges made their comments at a legal conference in San Diego on March 12, 2026.

The players

Richard F. Boulware

A judge on the US District Court for the District of Nevada.

André Birotte Jr.

A judge on the US District Court for the Central District of California.

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What they’re saying

“We're definitely seeing across the board an increase in judges discussing publicly contempt for not following the spirit of an order.”

— Richard F. Boulware, US District Court Judge (Legal conference in San Diego)

“When his fellow panelist, Judge André Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California, was asked about concerns that the executive branch would ignore a ...”

— André Birotte Jr., US District Court Judge (Legal conference in San Diego)

The takeaway

This situation highlights the growing tensions between the judicial and executive branches, as judges express concerns about the potential for the Trump administration to defy court orders and the personal safety risks they face. It raises questions about the rule of law and the ability of the courts to check the power of the presidency.