Going after activist judges

One, at least:

On Feb. 11, Washington, D.C.-based U.S. District Judge John Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a temporary restraining order directing four administrative agencies to restore a series of webpages and datasets that had been removed from public health websites.

The order was subsequently overturned.

On Monday, Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, filed House Resolution 157, which accuses the judge of “high crimes and misdemeanors” over the temporary restraining order. The bill was subsequently referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

“John Deacon Bates, a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, engaged in a pattern of conduct that is incompatible with the trust and confidence placed in him,” the lone article of impeachment in the resolution begins.

About time. There was no cogent argument for what he did, except to block actions by a President that he found objectionable. No legal reason or argument for it. Just abuse of power.

I hope this is a lesson other activist judges, of any political bent or philosophy.