Summary of "Prominent conservative judge resigns, calling Trump 'uniquely dangerous'"

Retired Judge Mark Wolf Warns of Threats to the Rule of Law

Retired federal judge Mark Wolf, appointed by President Reagan and with a 50-year career in the Department of Justice and on the bench, is resigning after four decades. He has publicly warned about threats to the rule of law under the current presidency.

Concerns About Presidential Conduct

In a recent essay and interview, Wolf described President Trump as “uniquely dangerous” due to his repeated, overt attempts to direct the Department of Justice to prosecute political enemies while ignoring potential corruption involving himself and his associates. Wolf emphasized that this behavior fundamentally undermines the principle of equal justice under the law, a principle central to his career.

Erosion of Traditional Guardrails

Wolf expressed concern that the traditional “guardrails” restraining presidential abuses of power may no longer hold. He cited the Watergate era as a time when the judiciary and public would not tolerate disobedience of court orders. In contrast, the current climate features a president who publicly attacks judges as corrupt and calls for their impeachment.

This rhetoric has led to:

A loss of public confidence in judicial impartiality
Threats and intimidation against federal judges
Genuine fear for the safety of judges and their families

The Importance of Judicial Authority

Despite personal risks in speaking out, Wolf feels compelled to protect democracy and the rule of law, which he believes are in peril. He rejected claims that concerns about democracy are exaggerated, arguing that:

Democracy fundamentally depends on courts enforcing limits on elected officials’ powers. Without adherence to court orders and judicial authority, the president could wield unchecked power, leading to authoritarianism and oppression—a fate Wolf has witnessed in other countries.