U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf Resigns, Citing Trump Administration’s Actions on Rule of Law
BOSTON — U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf, a federal judge appointed by former President Ronald Reagan, has resigned from the bench, saying he can no longer remain silent amid concerns over the Trump administration’s approach to the justice system.
In a strongly worded statement, Wolf, who had served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts since 1985, announced his resignation from his lifetime appointment. The veteran jurist, who took senior status in 2013, said ethical rules restricting public comments by sitting judges left him unable to address what he described as a troubling pattern.
“President Donald Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment,” Wolf wrote. “Silence, for me, is now intolerable.”
Wolf, who began his career at the Department of Justice in 1974 following the Watergate scandal, credited the nonpartisan leadership of Attorney General Edward Levi under President Gerald Ford with shaping his views. He said the current situation runs counter to the principles he upheld during more than five decades in public service.
The judge told The New York Times he hopes to serve as a public voice for other jurists who feel similarly constrained. His seat was filled in 2014 by Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee.
The White House pushed back against the criticism. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital that judges seeking to inject personal political agendas into the judiciary “have no place on the bench.” She pointed to the Trump administration’s more than 20 Supreme Court victories as evidence that its policies have withstood legal scrutiny.
The resignation comes as both parties prepare for the November 2026 midterm elections. Separately, Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters expressed confidence in the GOP’s financial position, noting potential advantages over Democrats in campaign spending.
