As attacks on judges boost, the WV District Attorney’s Office is considering a solution to protect the independence of the judiciary

Members of the West Virginia State Bar will consider a resolution next week to reaffirm the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

George Carenbauer, lawyer and member of the public prosecutor’s office, said that the independence of the judiciary and the judges themselves was given have been subjected to significant attacks in the past year.

“The really fundamental problem is the threat of physical violence against judges simply because of their rulings,” said Carenbauer wrote the resolution This will be discussed at the West Virginia State Bar’s annual meeting on April 20 in Charleston.

Social media has increased threats when individuals disagree with the judge’s decision, Carenbauer noted.

“This is a threat to the rule of law and that needs to be made clear,” he said. “Every time a judge comes out and says something, there’s something on social media attacking the judge. We as lawyers have a responsibility to say no, that judge needs to be protected.”

Federal judges have concerns have repeatedly been expressed about an boost in violent threats against judges in recent years.

A current one Consequence CBS’ “60 Minutes” highlighted how the number of personal attacks and death threats against Republican and Democratic judges who have ruled against the Trump administration has increased.

President Donald J. Trump has openly criticized judges who disagree with his administration.

“…We cannot allow a handful of communist judges from the radical left to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and take over the duties that belong exclusively to the President of the United States,” Trump said in 2025.

Trump has also criticized the Supreme Court and said According to the court with a conservative majority, the judges “harmed our country.” judged him for tariffs.

“Our country has been needlessly raided by the Supreme Court of the United States, which has become little more than an armed and unjust political organization,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Chief Justice John Roberts recently requested Prominent figures dismissed the judges’ personal criticism, saying it was threatening and must stop.

The West Virginia Bar Association is a mandatory and official organization for all lawyers in the state.

In his proposed resolution, Carenbauer said the legal profession has a responsibility to maintain public trust in the rule of law and the justice system. Lawyers are best positioned to ensure that the executive branch does not dismiss judicial review, he wrote.

“I want to be very clear that this is not a partisan issue,” Carenbauer told West Virginia Watch. “There are as many Republican and appointed judges as there are Democratic appointed judges who are very, very concerned and expressing concern about the current situation.”

Carenbauer is also concerned about a up-to-date proposed federal rule that would allow this The U.S. Department of Justice should investigate federal prosecutors before conducting an ethics investigation into state bar associations.

This “directly challenges the authority of state supreme courts and bar associations.” Carenbauer wrote in the resolution, which is being examined by the public prosecutor’s office.

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading a coalition of 14 attorneys general in support the proposed DOJ rule.

“Justice Department lawyers must continue to be able to enforce our nation’s laws without fear of having politically motivated bar suits or ethics investigations filed against them,” McCuskey said. “We have seen an increase in these unfounded complaints.”

Carenabuer said it was “another conflict between the executive and the judiciary.”

“Now that the West Virginia attorney general has stepped in on the other side, so to speak, I think it’s even more concerning and even more necessary for the attorney general’s office to assert its own authority,” he said. “That is our authority. That is not the executive branch. If we are responsible for the conduct of all lawyers, we will not make exceptions for some lawyers.”