Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts He Quit the Bench to Raise the Alarm
43 snips
Nov 15, 2025 
Mark Wolf, a retired U.S. district judge, candidly discusses his departure from the bench to highlight threats against democracy and the rule of law. He reflects on past reforms and calls for civic engagement. Joining him, California Attorney General Rob Bonta explains the state's legal battles against the federal administration, including urgent cases to uphold SNAP benefits and challenges against federal overreach. Together, they emphasize the importance of judicial integrity and public involvement in protecting democratic values.
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Why A Judge Resigned To Speak Out
- Mark Wolf left the bench because he could no longer stay silent about repeated assaults on the rule of law.
- He believes judges' public silence weakens public confidence when the executive openly attacks courts.
Watergate Shaped His DOJ Ethic
- Wolf recounts his Watergate-era Justice Department experience under Attorney General Edward Levi.
- That period shaped reforms and a culture insisting DOJ not serve partisan purposes.
Open Assaults Beat Secret Corruption
- Wolf contrasts Nixon's secret abuses with Trump's open, repeated attacks on norms.
- He warns that Trump's public contempt for DOJ traditions threatens equal justice under law.