A longtime federal judge appointed during the Reagan administration has stepped down, citing deep concerns over the current president’s wielding of legal powers.
At age 78, Mark L. Wolf resigned from the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, explaining in a public commentary that he could no longer remain silent as the executive branch pursued what he described as partisan prosecutions, unconstitutional orders, and disregard for judicial authority.
Wolf—who first joined the bench in 1985—pointed to the sparsity of meaningful checks and the increasing use of government power for political ends. He noted that, in his view, the assault on the rule of law was so severe it compelled him to leave the bench and become an outspoken advocate instead.
Because he had assumed senior status years ago, his departure does not open a vacancy for a new presidential nominee. Nonetheless, his exit signals a striking break by an often-steady judicial figure, underscoring a broader debate about the limits of presidential power and the health of American legal institutions.