Fifth Circuit Judge James Ho slammed the Supreme Court and apologized after their ruling added an undocumented migrant case back to his docket “seemingly overnight,” according to a Rolling Stone report.
“We seem to have forgotten that this is a district court — not a Denny’s,” Ho wrote, referring to the 24/7 restaurant chain. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone suggest that district judges have a duty to check their dockets at all hours of the night, just in case a party decides to file a motion.”
Ho is considered a contender for the Supreme Court, if a seat becomes available. Rolling Stone claims Ho’s registered remarks were “designed for an audience of one,” President Donald Trump.
“As an inferior court, we’re duty-bound to follow Supreme Court rulings — whether we agree with them or not. We don’t have to like it. But we have to do it,” he continues. “So I concur in our order today expediting our consideration of this matter, as directed by the Supreme Court. But I write to state my sincere concerns about how the district judge, as well as the president and other officials, have been treated in this case.”
The outlet believes Ho apologized to Trump for the Supreme Court's actions.
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“The district judge is not the only public official whose treatment in this case warrants comment,” Ho said. “Recall why the district court established a 24-hour filing deadline. The court firmly believed that the government should have the right to express its views before any ruling is issued. And rightly so.”
Ho continues, “It should go without saying that the president and his fellow executive branch officials deserve the same respect that courts regularly afford every other litigant — including other presidents and officials.”
Taking jabs at former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Ho claimed Obama, "tried to shame members of the Supreme Court during a State of the Union address by disparaging a recent ruling." He also wrongly said the High Court disbarred Clinton for the sexual harassment investigations. The case was not tried in front of the court and Clinton served his two terms.
Ho then claimed he doubts “that any court would deny any of those presidents the right to express their views in any pending case to which they are a party, before issuing any ruling,” Ho concludes. “Our current president deserves the same respect.”
