10 Reasons Emil Bove Should Not Become a Judge (A Non-Exhaustive List)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Chancellor Palpatine shattered the Jedi by taking Anakin Skywalker, a member of the Jedi Council, as his Sith apprentice, Darth Vader. In becoming Palpatine’s apprentice, Vader relinquished his commitment to peace and justice, bowed his knee to power, and became the Emperor’s attack dog. He then used his power to ruthlessly purge Jedis from the Galactic Empire.
In the here and now, fiction may forecast reality, as Emil Bove, a partisan henchman from Trump’s inner circle, is about to be elevated to a lifelong position on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals — not because he embodies qualities that a federal judge should possess, but because he has served as Trump’s personal hit man.
A judgeship on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals is not an obscure role. The Third Circuit decides major cases on civil rights, voting, immigration, and more. Many of its decisions never even reach the Supreme Court. If confirmed, Bove will create a majority of Republican appointees on the Third Circuit, guaranteeing him many opportunities to impose his will on one of the most consequential courts in the country. And yet, the man Trump has nominated has a track record that should disqualify him outright.
1. He Used the Justice Department for Political Prosecutions
Bove played a central role in turning the Department of Justice into a tool of political retribution. As a senior official under Trump, he helped orchestrate the sudden abandonment of a federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams — reportedly because Adams agreed to help implement Trump’s mass deportation plan. At least 10 DOJ attorneys, including some affiliated with the conservative legal movement, resigned in protest of the apparent quid pro quo.
2. He Tramples on Free Speech and Due Process
As the acting deputy attorney general at the DOJ, Bove demanded the names of FBI agents investigating the January 6 insurrection so he could punish them for “insubordination.” He also removed experienced prosecutors from the Jan. 6 investigation when they wouldn’t bend to political pressure. That kind of intimidation does not belong anywhere near a courtroom.
3. He Pushed Extreme and Possibly Illegal Deportation Tactics
Bove was a key architect of a deportation scheme under the Alien Enemies Act, using wartime powers to deport immigrants en masse. When courts tried to intervene, whistleblowers say Bove told DOJ attorneys to ignore court orders. One attorney was even told to say “f*** you” to a judge if necessary. That should disqualify anyone from holding any legal office, let alone a lifetime judgeship.
4. He Punishes People Who Speak the Truth
Not only had he led a team that “engaged in a deliberate attempt to obscure the truth,” Bove also retaliated against Erez Reuveni, a career DOJ lawyer, who refused to lie to a federal court about a deportation case. After Reuveni told the truth — that the government’s claims about a deported man’s gang affiliation were false — he was put on leave and then dismissed. His termination came just hours after he exposed Bove’s plan to violate court orders. That is not just unethical; it is dangerous.
5. He Shows Hostility Toward Defendants and Defense Attorneys
Bove “cannot be bothered to treat lesser mortals with respect or empathy.” Public defenders in New York previously raised concerns about Bove’s conduct in court, including his harsh treatment of defendants and aggressive tactics against opposing counsel. Judges are supposed to be impartial; Bove has shown repeatedly that he is anything but.
6. He Ignores Legal Ethics
His instances of ethical lapses are not isolated. From threatening defendants with unprovable charges and punishing ethical attorneys to misleading courts, Bove has repeatedly prioritized political expediency and his own personal gain over his duty as a lawyer. His nomination is a reward for loyalty to Trump, not to the spirit of the rule of law.
7. Even His Own Staff and Other Republican Judges Hate Him
Bove was notorious among DOJ attorneys at the narcotics and terrorism unit that he managed for “cutting” comments about the work of subordinates. After a formal inquiry, the U.S. attorney’s office concluded that he should be fired for his abusive management style. Even Republican judges also think that he is unfit to be a judge.
8. He Hates Accountability and Transparency
When concerns were raised about his conduct, Bove did not offer answers. Instead, he dismissed whistleblowers as part of an “unelected bureaucracy” and used his position to silence dissent. Many organizations and senators, including Dick Durbin and Cory Booker, have raised alarms about his lack of ethics and openness.
9. He is Power-Hungry
“[W]hat he enjoyed most as a prosecutor was wielding power — the single worst possible trait for a public servant,” said his former colleague. Bove’s authoritarian tendency is clearly demonstrated in the transgressions of his duty as an attorney and a lack of basic human decency.
10. This is a Lifetime Appointment that Will Tip the Balance of the Court
A federal judgeship is not a temporary job. If confirmed, Bove will tip the balance of the court for decades. On a court where many rulings are final, his vote could decide whether civil rights are respected, whether big tech, pharmaceutical, and energy companies observe our laws, and whether the government follows the Constitution. These are decisions that would have an enormous influence over millions of people. And based on his record, we cannot trust him to get those answers right.
Here is the bottom line: Emil Bove isn’t just unfit. He is a symbol of a corrupt, transactional view of the law where loyalty trumps justice and accountability gets punished. We want no Palpatines to govern our country and no Darth Vaders to dictate our fate. We cannot afford to hand someone like Emil Bove the keys to our justice system — not for a day, and certainly not for life.