In a pointed press conference on Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) signaled that the possibility of impeaching federal judges remains “on the table,” though he emphasized the constitutional hurdles that make such a move rare and exceptionally difficult. His remarks come amid mounting pressure from some Republicans — including former President Donald Trump — who are urging action against judges they accuse of overstepping their authority and acting as “leftist activists.”
Johnson, known for his constitutional law background and measured tone, acknowledged that “impeachments are never off the table if it’s merited,” but reminded reporters of the high threshold involved: “We’ve had 15 federal judges impeached in the entire history of the country… the bar is high crimes and misdemeanors.”
He also pointed to the practical limitations of the process. Even if impeachment were to pass the House, conviction in the Senate would be unlikely, given the GOP’s slim majority and the need for a two-thirds vote.
Q: "Are judicial impeachments off the table for the rest of this Congress?"
.@SpeakerJohnson: "No. Impeachments are never off the table if it's merited." pic.twitter.com/FSYwxzIjXF
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 6, 2025
The speaker’s comments reflect a growing tension within the Republican conference over how to respond to what they view as judicial overreach — particularly nationwide injunctions issued by single district judges that have blocked key policies under the Trump and current administrations alike.
Johnson called out this tactic as a “deep structural flaw” in the federal judiciary, referencing cases where policy rollouts on immigration, environmental regulation, and executive authority have been halted by lower-court rulings often initiated through strategic venue shopping.
In response, Johnson praised the “No Rogue Rulings Act,” a legislative effort spearheaded by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). The bill, which passed the House last month largely along party lines, would prohibit federal district judges from issuing nationwide injunctions.
Supporters say the measure restores balance to the judiciary by limiting the power of individual judges to single jurisdictions. Johnson stressed, “We passed it through the House… and sent it to the Senate with every expectation that they should be able to take that up.”
While the bill faces steep odds in the Senate, where Democrats and their allies remain highly skeptical of any legislation that appears to curb judicial independence, Johnson insisted the issue should transcend partisanship: “It shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”
Still, calls for more aggressive action — including impeachment — have gained traction in the Republican base, especially following rulings that struck down or delayed high-profile conservative priorities. Trump's vocal advocacy for stronger consequences against what he calls “lawless judges” has only added fuel to the fire, creating pressure for GOP leaders to act decisively in some form.