“If we’re not careful, we’re going to get a judge killed. It’s just that stark,” retired federal Judge John Jones, a George W. Bush appointee. Jones, along with 55 other retired judges, formed a bipartisan group to lobby the White House to stop the demonization of judges. Last year, 400 federal judges were targets of serious threats, a 78% jump in four years. “This is such a toxic environment, where people are taking arms, and can identify where a judge lives can – strike out against that judge or the judge’s family members,” says Jones. Jones believes that President Trump is attempting to delegitimize the federal courts and that the White House is testing the bounds of presidential power. “Civics taught me that Congress makes the law, and the president faithfully executes the laws of the country. We’ve turned that on its head right now,” he adds. #federaljudge #judge #uspolitics