CNN’s Toobin defends Trump criticism of judges: ‘I do it all the time’

CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin defended President Trump’s criticism of federal judges on Wednesday, stating that he engages in the same criticism “all the time.” 

“Who says you can’t criticize a judge?” Toobin asked during a panel discussion moderated by anchor Wolf Blitzer. “These people serve for life. They are unaccountable to anyone, and you can’t criticize them?”

Trump has criticized several federal judges both as a candidate and since taking office, most recently publicly slamming those ruling against his temporary travel ban. 

{mosads}On Tuesday, Trump said he would continue to criticize judges — even after his Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, said he was “disheartened” and “demoralized” by such attacks on the judiciary during his Senate confirmation hearing.

“The courts are not helping us, I have to be honest with you,” Trump said in remarks to the National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday. 

“It’s ridiculous. Somebody said I should not criticize judges. OK, I’ll criticize judges.” 

“So you disagree with Neil Gorsuch?” Blitzer asked Toobin. 

“Absolutely I disagree with Neil Gorsuch,” Toobin responded. “I don’t happen to agree with [Trump’s] criticism, but his right to criticize judges? Boy, I do it all the time.”

Gorsuch’s confirmation hearings continued for a third day on Wednesday.