In rare interviews, federal judges criticize Supreme Court's handling of Trump cases

[In It to Win It]

WASHINGTON — Federal judges are frustrated with the Supreme Court for increasingly overturning lower court rulings involving the Trump administration with little or no explanation, with some worried the practice is undermining the judiciary at a sensitive time.

Some judges believe the Supreme Court, and in particular Chief Justice John Roberts, could be doing more to defend the integrity of their work as President Donald Trump and his allies harshly criticize those who rule against him and as violent threats against judges are on the rise.

In rare interviews with NBC News, a dozen federal judges — appointed by Democratic and Republican presidents, including Trump, and serving around the country — pointed to a pattern they say has recently emerged:

Lower court judges are handed contentious cases involving the Trump administration. They painstakingly research the law to reach their rulings. When they go against Trump, administration officials and allies criticize the judges in harsh terms. The government appeals to the Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority.

And then the Supreme Court, in emergency rulings, swiftly rejects the judges’ decisions with little to no explanation.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-trump-cases-federal-judges-criticize-rcna221775

[no_hypocrisy]

1. SCOTUS is invalidating the

well-reasoned opinions and analyses of lower courts, ignoring precedence.

[Mr. Sparkle]

2. K&R

This is a big effing deal!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. It is clear that lower court judges are sounding the alarm.

This is a remarkable article. Federal judges are increasingly speaking out against SCOTUS’s approach to the shadow docket. This isn't typical & underscores the impossible position for lower courts when SCOTUS makes new law on its emergency docket – especially when it doesn’t explain its rulings. /1

— Alicia Bannon (@aliciabannon.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T15:35:11.416Z

It’s clear that lower court judges are sounding the alarm. In addition to this article, yesterday’s Harvard ruling included a very pointed critique of the shadow docket and "unfair" criticisms of lower courts by SCOTUS. /2 bsky.app/profile/rick...

— Alicia Bannon (@aliciabannon.bsky.social) 2025-09-04T15:35:11.417Z