'These are not ordinary times': Chief Judge Dolly Gee defends judiciary's independence amid political attacks

Chief Judge Dolly M. Gee of the Central District of California departed from the usual tone of judicial addresses Tuesday, using her annual State of the Judiciary speech before the Los Angeles County Bar to deliver an unflinching critique of political attacks on the courts.

While she touched on expected topics like large caseloads and tight budgets, Gee reserved her strongest words for what she described as a dangerous erosion of respect for judicial independence -- a trend she appeared to blame on President Donald Trump and his Republican allies.

"Make no mistake, these are not ordinary times," Gee told the audience in downtown Los Angeles. "Recent events show that many of our fellow citizens, including some of our political leaders, do not understand Civics 101, the importance of federal judiciary as a separate and co-equal branch of government and guardians of the rule of law."

In recent weeks, Trump and his allies have ramped up its confrontation with the judiciary and the legal profession, appearing to flout some judge's orders or threatening to try to impeach them over orders that temporarily blocked the administration's actions or his executive orders.

"This type of political rhetoric is not normal and cannot be allowed to become normalized," Gee told the crowd. "Indeed, Chief Justice [John] Roberts recently found it necessary to issue a rare public statement rebuking calls for impeachment of judges based on disagreements with their beliefs."

Gee, an appointee of President Barack Obama who oversees the largest federal trial court in the nation, spanning nine Southern and Central California counties, had her own run-ins with the first Trump administration, issuing several orders that blocked its immigration initiatives.

In recent weeks, Trump has also gone after several law firms over cases they brought in the past or even for once employing people disfavored by the administration. Some law firms have struck deals with the administration to save their business and that of their clients. Others, most notably Perkins Coie LLP, have gone to battle with the administration. This has caused a rift among law firms.

Gee appeared to allude to that toward the end of the speech. She thanked the LA County Bar for its March 10 statement condemning attacks on the judiciary.

"You must continue to speak out and urge your firms to speak out," she said. "Silence is acquiescence, and we cannot allow these challenges to the judiciary and the rule of law to become an ordinary, normal part of our political discourse.

"This is, and ought to be, a nonpartisan issue," Gee added. "Our constitutional republic cannot stand without an independent judiciary, and so I hope that you will make your voices heard."