Judicial bias exposed: Judge who blocked Trump’s gang deportations attended secretive left-wing conference
By willowt // 2025-03-27
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  • U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked Trump’s deportation of illegal alien gang members, attended a partisan legal conference hosted by the left-leaning Rodel Institute, raising concerns about impartiality.
  • The July 2024 event featured anti-Trump speakers and Democratic-aligned judges, with sessions echoing Democratic campaign themes, yet financial disclosures for attending judges remain unclear.
  • Funded by progressive foundations (e.g., Luce, Rockefeller, Hewlett), the institute’s leadership and advisors have openly criticized Trump, suggesting a political agenda.
  • Boasberg’s decision to halt deportations of violent gang members is seen as politically motivated, prompting calls for accountability, including impeachment and congressional hearings on judicial activism.
  • Critics argue the judiciary is being weaponized by progressive interests, undermining constitutional principles and necessitating reforms to restore public trust.
Americans have long suspected that activist judges are working behind the scenes to undermine President Donald Trump’s America First agenda. Now, new revelations confirm their worst fears. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg — who recently blocked Trump’s efforts to deport illegal alien gang members—attended a highly partisan legal conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, just months before his controversial ruling. The event, hosted by the Rodel Institute, was packed with anti-Trump speakers, Democratic operatives and left-wing activists, raising serious questions about judicial impartiality.

A partisan gathering masquerading as a "judicial fellowship"

The conference, held in July 2024, featured sessions with titles like “Role of Judges in a Democracy” and “State of Democracy”—phrases eerily similar to the Democrats’ 2024 campaign slogans. According to a judicial ethics disclosure, Boasberg was among 12 federal judges in attendance, nine of whom were appointed by Democrats. A retired Democrat-appointed judge, who spoke anonymously to Just the News, expressed concern that the event was “too close to a political party’s theme for comfort.” Federal ethics rules require private entities to disclose payments exceeding $480 to judges for speaking or attending events. However, the Rodel Institute’s filing — while confirming Boasberg’s presence — provided no details on whether he was paid, reimbursed, or given other benefits. Boasberg, an Obama appointee, refused to comment. But the implications are clear: A judge who hobnobs with Trump’s fiercest critics should not be ruling on cases involving the president’s policies.

Rodel Institute: A who’s who of Trump haters

The Rodel Institute, which organized the conference, is bankrolled by foundations that routinely fund anti-Trump initiatives, including:
  • The Henry Luce Foundation, which supports groups like the Migration Policy Institute—a vocal opponent of Trump’s immigration enforcement.
  • The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a major donor to the Brennan Center for Justice, which has repeatedly sued to stop Trump’s policies.
  • The Hewlett Foundation, which has condemned Trump’s presidency as a “nadir” for democracy.
The institute’s leadership is equally partisan. CEO John Kroger, a former Clinton aide, has called Trump a “convicted felon” and claimed his administration intentionally violated the Constitution. Faculty advisors include Yale professor Akhil Reed Amar, who filed a Supreme Court brief arguing Trump should be barred from office over January 6. Even Rodel’s book award is named after Mickey Edwards, a former Republican congressman who endorsed Kamala Harris and called Trump supporters akin to “totalitarians.”

From the bench to the swamp

Boasberg’s ruling blocking Trump’s deportation of Venezuelan gang members — many with violent criminal records — now appears tainted by his association with Rodel. The judge’s decision relied on dubious legal reasoning, ignoring the clear national security threat posed by these individuals. Meanwhile, Rodel’s judicial fellows have openly celebrated rulings against Trump, with one speaker, Catholic University law professor Cara Drinan, previously accusing the administration of “keeping migrant children in cages.” This isn’t just judicial activism — it’s a coordinated effort by the left to weaponize the courts.

A call for accountability

Next week, the House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on “activist judges” obstructing Trump’s agenda. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has signaled support for legislation to curb nationwide injunctions — a tactic frequently used by liberal judges to stall conservative policies. Some Republicans, like Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), are pushing further, demanding Boasberg’s impeachment. “This is exactly why Americans have lost faith in the judiciary,” Gill told Fox News. “Unelected judges attend partisan conferences, then issue rulings based on politics, not the Constitution.”

The Left’s court-packing scheme

The Founding Fathers envisioned an impartial judiciary, not a cabal of politically motivated jurists. Yet judges like Boasberg—empowered by dark money and left-wing donors—are turning the courts into an extension of the Democratic Party. If Congress fails to act, the judicial branch will remain a tool for progressive obstruction, undermining the rule of law and the will of the American people. Sources include: PJMedia.com JustTheNews.com FoxNews.com
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