A federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan stepped down from the bench to speak publicly against President Donald Trump’s use of law for partisan purposes.
Mark Wolf, who served as a U.S. District Court judge for Massachusetts since his 1985 appointment, announced his resignation in an essay published by The Atlantic. Wolf cited concerns about Trump’s approach to the justice system as his reason for leaving the bench after more than 50 years in federal service.
Why He Resigned
Wolf wrote that judicial ethics rules prevented him from speaking candidly about his concerns while on the bench. “My reason is simple: I no longer can bear to be restrained by what judges can say publicly or do outside the courtroom,” he stated.
The judge accused Trump of using prosecutorial power selectively, targeting political opponents while protecting allies and donors. Wolf noted that this approach contradicted the nonpartisan pursuit of justice he learned during the Ford administration under Attorney General Edward Levi, who shaped his judicial philosophy during the Watergate era.
“The White House’s assault on the rule of law is so deeply disturbing to me that I feel compelled to speak out. Silence, for me, is now intolerable,” Wolf told The New York Times.
The White House Response
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson dismissed Wolf’s criticism, stating that judges seeking to advance personal agendas have no place on the bench. Jackson pointed to over 20 Supreme Court victories for the Trump administration’s policies as evidence of their lawfulness.
“Any other radical judges that want to complain to the press should at least have the decency to resign before doing so,” Jackson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Wolf’s Future Role
Wolf indicated he intends to use his newly unrestricted platform to advocate for other judges facing similar constraints. “I hope to be a spokesperson for embattled judges who, consistent with the code of conduct, feel they cannot speak candidly to the American people,” he told The New York Times.
Wolf assumed senior status in 2013, allowing his seat to be filled by Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, in 2014.