Cornyn Bristles at Efforts to Impeach Judges Over Rulings

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) spoke out against attacks on the judiciary, singling out those who call for or attempt to impeach judges over rulings they disagree with.

The former state supreme court justice and outgoing senator told judicial nominees at their Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday that they may face heightened criticism in a fraught political climate.

“The problem is judges can’t really defend themselves against criticism. It takes other people to speak on their behalf,” Cornyn said in urging more of the legal community to stand up for jurists doing nothing more than their jobs.

Cornyn also said steps to impeach judges based on their opinions are wrong. “There is a remedy for decisions you don’t like. It’s an appeal,” Cornyn said. “An appeal, not impeachment.”

Cornyn didn’t mention specific instances or judges, but House Republicans have filed impeachment resolutions targeting a number of federal judges who have ruled against the Trump administration, though the chamber hasn’t moved forward with those efforts.

Judges have decried these resolutions as efforts to undermine the judiciary’s independence.

President Donald Trump has also called for judges who ruled against him to be impeached. And other Republicans on the Senate Judiciary panel have also previously endorsed impeaching two federal judges in Maryland and Washington over their handling of certain cases.

Cornyn’s fellow Texan, Sen. Ted Cruz, wrote House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in January calling on the House to “immediately advance” those impeachment articles, ahead of a Republican-led hearing on holding “rogue judges” accountable through impeachment. Cruz chairs the committee’s courts’ panel.

Cornyn’s sharper tone on judicial independence follows defeat in his Senate primary last month to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was endorsed by Trump. The veteran lawmaker will leave the Senate in January when his term expires.

—With assistance from Suzanne Monyak.