Senior U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton has been cleared of judicial misconduct after speaking out on CNN against threats made towards the judiciary. The 3rd Circuit Judicial Council dismissed two ethics complaints against Walton, finding he did not comment on the merits of any legal case but addressed President Donald Trump’s public remarks about Justice Juan Merchan and his family.
Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Chagares ruled that Walton’s comments on judicial independence and the risks of inflammatory rhetoric did not violate judicial ethics. The complaints stemmed from Walton’s March 2024 CNN interview, where he warned that statements like Trump’s could incite violence against judges. One complaint was filed by Mike Davis, a Trump ally and founder of the Article III Project, while the other complainant remains unidentified.
Trump had publicly criticized Merchan and his daughter before his criminal trial for falsifying documents to conceal hush money payments to Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Walton expressed concerns on CNN, stating that such remarks from influential figures could endanger judicial officials.
The council’s decision, issued on January 31 and released publicly this week, found Walton acted within ethical boundaries. Although Walton, a Republican appointee of George W. Bush, was not named in the ruling, he later confirmed his involvement to Reuters. Davis, however, maintained that Walton violated judicial ethics, calling for an independent oversight body for the federal judiciary.
Trump, now serving his second term, continues to target judges who rule against his administration. His past comments have fueled security concerns, especially after calling for the impeachment of a judge in an immigration case. Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge, avoiding prison time.