Monday, January 12, 2026

The American way

The American way: If we truly want to reestablish our national “greatness,” then we, and especially those who represent us in government, must all recommit to the fundamental and very simple proposition that America is, and has always been, a nation of laws, not men, write a group of Wyoming attorneys and retired judges.

Monday, November 10, 2025

"President Donald Trump is using the law for partisan purposes"

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan appointed me as a federal judge. I was 38 years old. At the time, I looked forward to serving for the rest of my life. However, I resigned Friday, relinquishing that lifetime appointment and giving up the opportunity for public service that I have loved.

My reason is simple: I no longer can bear to be restrained by what judges can say publicly or do outside the courtroom. President Donald Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment. 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. The White House’s assault on the rule of law is so deeply disturbing to me that I feel compelled to speak out. Silence, for me, is now intolerable.

Mark L. Wolf, U.S. District Court Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Notice Regarding Impending Government Shutdown

From the Federal Courts.

If the federal government enters a lapse in appropriations (aka "a shutdown") on October 1, 2025, the United States District Court and the United States Probation Offices will remain open, and all court operations will continue as scheduled. During Phase 1 of a lapse in of appropriations, balances from fees and no-year appropriations allow the judiciary to sustain operations until those fees and appropriations are exhausted. Once those fees and appropriations are exhausted, the judiciary has no available funds to continue operations and enters Phase 2 of a lapse in appropriations. During Phase 2 of a lapse in appropriations the judiciary must reduce operations to perform only excepted activities. The Court will issue further guidance regarding excepted activities should the lapse in appropriations progress into Phase 2.