Senator Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor expressing concern about recent criticism of the Supreme Court from within the federal judiciary. Grassley emphasized the importance of a fair and neutral judiciary in maintaining public confidence in the legal system.
Grassley referenced reports from NBC News and The New York Times, which highlighted anonymous criticisms of the Supreme Court by sitting federal judges. According to Grassley, NBC News reported that 12 federal judges gave anonymous interviews, with 10 criticizing the Supreme Court. He quoted one judge describing the Supreme Court’s conduct as “inexcusable,” while another claimed that the Court was “effectively assisting the Trump administration in ‘undermining the lower courts.’”
Grassley also cited an October 11, 2025 article by The New York Times, which approached 400 federal judges for comment. He noted that only a small percentage responded but said this still amounted to 65 judges who offered harsh criticism. The Times reported that some judges called Supreme Court emergency orders “mystical,” “overly blunt,” “incredibly demoralizing and troubling,” and “a slap in the face to the district courts.” One judge compared their relationship with the Supreme Court to “a war zone,” while another described a “judicial crisis.”
Grassley argued that such public attacks from within undermine faith in the judicial system: “When judges call the legitimacy of their own branch of government into question, they erode faith in the institution itself.”
He explained that he and his counterpart in the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Chief Justice Roberts expressing concerns about possible violations of judicial ethics. Grassley pointed out that Canon 2 of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges states: “[a] judge . . . should act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.”
Grassley referenced a 2024 decision by Chief Judge Diaz of the Fourth Circuit regarding a complaint against a judge who criticized a sitting Supreme Court Justice. Diaz concluded that such actions violated ethical canons and diminished public confidence in judicial integrity.
Grassley stated: “Anonymous, public comments from sitting judges describing the relationship between the Supreme Court and lower courts as a ‘war zone’ and otherwise attacking the legitimacy of Supreme Court rulings undermines public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. In fact, it may violate the Code of Conduct.”
He called on federal judges to avoid engaging in political-style rhetoric: “Judges shouldn’t mimic the in-fighting and rhetorical attacks that are so common among us in the political arena. This damages the public’s faith in the judiciary.”
Concluding his remarks, Grassley urged action from judicial leadership: “So today, I’m here to defend the integrity of the Supreme Court, and to urge the judicial branch to address these attacks that are coming from within… So, here is my bottom line. I call on the federal judiciary to give clear guidance to federal judges on acceptable public commentary, and to take seriously the public’s perception and confidence in courts.”
