Yesterday, in a bold move detailed in The Atlantic, Judge Mark L. Wolf announced his resignation after a distinguished four-decade tenure on the federal bench. Appointed by Ronald Reagan, Wolf has been a fixture in the judiciary, but cites the current political climate under President Donald Trump as the impetus for his departure.

"My reason is simple: I no longer can bear to be restrained by what judges can say publicly or do outside the courtroom," Wolf explained. He accused the Trump administration of using the law for partisan purposes, targeting political adversaries while protecting allies and donors from legal scrutiny. "This is contrary to everything that I have stood for in my more than 50 years in the Department of Justice and on the bench," he added.

Judge Wolf's criticisms of Trump are severe, labeling him an "existential threat to democracy and the rule of law." He compared Trump's overt actions unfavorably with those of Richard Nixon, whom he accused of similar misconduct, albeit covertly and sporadically.

Furthermore, Wolf highlighted several alarming developments, such as the firing of 18 inspectors general soon after Trump's inauguration, the elimination of the FBI's public-corruption squad, and significant reductions in the Department of Justice’s capacity to handle public integrity and election fraud cases. He also pointed to Trump's recent engagement with cryptocurrency, specifically the timing coinciding with the dismantling of the DOJ's cryptocurrency-enforcement unit, as a glaring conflict of interest.

Despite his transition to senior status in 2013, where he was succeeded by Obama appointee Indira Talwani in the District of Massachusetts, Wolf’s resignation will not create a vacancy for Trump to fill. Nevertheless, Wolf plans to remain active in public discourse, hoping to serve as a voice for other judges who feel constrained by their official capacities.

“I hope to be a spokesperson for embattled judges who, consistent with the code of conduct, feel they cannot speak candidly to the American people,” Wolf told the New York Times. His departure from the bench marks a significant turn in his career, moving from interpreting the law to actively engaging in the political discourse surrounding its application and enforcement.