“A Republic, If You Can Keep It”: Retired Judges on the Rule of Law Under Pressure

Jill Wine-Banks is joined by retired federal judges Andrew Guilford and Margaret Morrow for a rare inside look at the power—and limits—of the federal courts. They discuss rising threats against judges, what happens when court orders are defied, concerns about the use of troops around elections, the Abrego Garcia deportation case, and the independence of the Justice Department. They also explore whether juries should be able to consider a prosecutor’s political motives and why these former judges have chosen to speak publicly now. At the heart of the conversation is a fundamental question: If the courts have neither an army nor control of the purse, what ensures that their decisions are respected?