{"id":2647404,"date":"2026-08-20T13:30:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T17:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignleftists-wage-barfare-against-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T13:31:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T17:31:16","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignleftists-wage-barfare-against-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignleftists-wage-barfare-against-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/","title":{"rendered":"DHS Attorney Hit With Bar Complaint For Criticizing Rogue Judges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignleftists-wage-barfare-against-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2647404&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Leftist organizations and former judges have criticized DHS General Counsel James Percival for publicly criticizing judges involved in immigration cases and rulings,especially those perceived as rogue or activist judges. They filed a Florida Bar ethics complaint accusing him of professional misconduct and threatening the rule of law and judicial safety, though Percival asserts his comments are legitimate critiques. This incident follows claims from Obama-appointed judges that Percival&#8217;s rhetoric incites violence. Historically, groups like Lawyers Defending American Democracy and the Democracy Defenders Fund have aggressively targeted conservative attorneys and Justice Department officials through bar complaints and activism, often linked to Democratic interests. These organizations have also been involved in campaigns against Republican figures and in supporting left-wing legal causes, including efforts to influence election procedures and immigration policies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>For the past several years, leftists have waged an all-out assault on conservative attorneys and their ability to practice law. And now, such egregious \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/barfare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">barfare<\/a>\u201d tactics are being aimed at the Trump Department of Homeland Security\u2019s top legal official. <\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, a pair of leftist organizations and 128 former federal and state judges <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydefendersfund.org\/news\/ddf-ldad-and-128-former-judges-call-for-investigation-into-dhs-general-counsel-for-attacks-on-sitting-judges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">submitted<\/a> an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.democracydefendersfund.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/081926_DDF-LDAD-Percival-Bar-Complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ethics complaint<\/a> to the Florida Bar against DHS General Counsel James Percival, who previously served GOP Sen. Ashley Moody\u2019s chief of staff during her time as Florida attorney general. His alleged crime? Criticizing rogue judges for <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/28\/rogue-judges-are-helping-temporary-migrants-sidestep-key-scotus-ruling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">slow-walking<\/a> implementation of a recent Supreme Court ruling and their activism in other immigration-related cases before the bench. <\/p>\n<p>In <em>Mullin v. Doe<\/em>, the high court <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/06\/25\/supreme-court-affirms-temporary-status-for-foreign-migrants-is-temporary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">affirmed<\/a> that the federal law governing Temporary Protected Status (<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/temporary-protected-status\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TPS<\/a>) prohibits federal courts from reviewing non-constitutional claims against the government\u2019s TPS decisions. Rather than swiftly heed the majority\u2019s decision, several Democrat-appointed judges <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/28\/rogue-judges-are-helping-temporary-migrants-sidestep-key-scotus-ruling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">entertained<\/a> seemingly frivolous claims from challengers before finally allowing the administration\u2019s TPS terminations to move forward. The last holdout, Judge <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/judge-brian-murphy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brian Murphy<\/a>, finally <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/judge-clears-termination-ethiopians-temporary-protected-status\/story?id=135744296\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lifted<\/a> his blockade on the TPS termination for Ethiopians earlier this week. <\/p>\n<p>The aforementioned ethics complaint takes aim at a series of July 23 <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DHSGenCounsel\/status\/2080282962155778105?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X posts<\/a> published by Percival. Titled, \u201cWorst of the Worst, District Judge Edition,\u201d the thread documents these rogue judges\u2019 conduct in TPS and other immigration cases, as well as an explanation from Percival on how the rulings conflict with the administration\u2019s policy agenda.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint also highlights Percival\u2019s other criticisms of activist judges in various media appearances. It even included a reference to his May <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/05\/12\/because-she-ignored-the-law-an-activist-judge-freed-an-alleged-murderer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">article<\/a> for The Federalist, in which he accused Judge Melissa DuBose, a Biden appointee, of \u201cjudicial misconduct\u201d for her apparent mishandling of a case involving an illegal alien \u201cwanted for murder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Along with the former federal and state judges, the left-wing Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF) and Lawyers Defending American Democracy proclaimed that Percival\u2019s criticisms \u201cconstitute serious professional misconduct.\u201d Despite a lack of evidence of Percival calling for threats against these judges, they further accused him of \u201cthreaten[ing] the rule of law and increas[ing] the risk of violence against judges.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGeneral Counsel Percival\u2019s July 23 post was not, as he described it, a \u2018legitimate fact based critique\u2019 of either the Judges or their rulings,\u201d the complaint reads. \u201cThe Florida Bar has a responsibility to protect the integrity of the judiciary against unfounded statements that denigrate judges and other parties. It is therefore imperative that The Florida Bar promptly investigate Mr. Percival to assess whether he violated Rule 4-8.2(a) and to take appropriate disciplinary action.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The complaint was filed weeks after a pair of Obama-appointed federal judges <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/03\/obama-judges-attack-dhs-on-anti-trump-podcast-for-noticing-their-colleagues-activism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">appeared<\/a> on an anti-Trump podcast to similarly advance the claim that Percival\u2019s rhetoric amounted to an intimidation campaign and incitement of violence against judges. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNotice the resources the Left is putting into silencing me. Why? Judicial activism is their golden goose, and they\u2019re afraid if I keep talking about it then it will stop,\u201d Percival <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DHSGenCounsel\/status\/2090137408196972549?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote<\/a> on X in response to the complaint. <\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wow. 128 bipartisan former judges think criticizing judges for their rulings merits a bar complaint. This is a whole new level of &#8220;barfare&#8221;. Hard to believe more than 100 former judges think exercising First Amendment rights (no threats by Mr. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DHSGenCounsel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DHSGenCounsel<\/a>) warrants this <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0IxshLLcoz\">https:\/\/t.co\/0IxshLLcoz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eric W. (@EWess92) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EWess92\/status\/2090136752828637326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This isn\u2019t the first instance in which Lawyers Defending American Democracy has used barfare to target conservative attorneys. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/lawyers-defending-american-democracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">InfluenceWatch<\/a>, the leftist organization filed bar complaints against former Trump lawyers Rudy Giulliani and John Eastman and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for their respective conduct in 2020 election challenges. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/state-democracy-defenders-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF)<\/a> also boasts a long history of <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/democracy-defenders-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">left-wing activism<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>As described by InfluenceWatch, DDF was co-founded by Obama lacky <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/norm-eisen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Norm Eisen<\/a> in 2024 \u201cto engage in legal advocacy opposing Republican efforts to implement changes to election administration and procedures such as efforts to remove non-citizens from voter rolls in Virginia\u00a0and rejecting mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania with envelope errors including a lack of signature.\u201d Reportedly bankrolled by Democrats\u2019 dark money network, the group also notably supported a letter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/05\/us\/judges-trump-arrest-wisconsin-judge.html?unlocked_article_code=1.E08.MIyS.Hx1_BE2tnKI0&#038;smid=url-share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">criticizing<\/a> the 2025 arrest of Wisconsin Judge <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/hannah-dugan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hannah Dugan<\/a> for helping an illegal alien avoid being detained by ICE.<\/p>\n<p>As The Federalist previously <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/16\/democrat-judge-dodges-prison-for-obstructing-an-arrest-after-i-was-jailed-for-defending-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, Dugan was given a light $5,000 fine for her crime despite sentencing guidelines calling for \u201c15 to 21 months in prison.\u201d The Clinton-appointed judge handling her case <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/08\/judge-who-obstructed-ice-avoids-prison-because-shes-a-good-person-who-was-upset-by-enforcing-laws\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decided<\/a> she was a \u201cgood person upset by immigration enforcement in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He is a co-recipient of the 2025 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics and RealClearHealth. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leftists target DHS legal chief with bar complaint over judge criticism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2647405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/James-Percival.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4930,54292,7492],"class_list":["post-2647404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-attorney","tag-bar-complaint","tag-dhs"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/James-Percival.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647404"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647407,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647404\/revisions\/2647407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}