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... But in the face of what he calls the Trump administration's "assault on the rule of law," Mr. Wolf wrote that he could "no longer ... bear to be restrained by what judges can say publicly or do outside the courtroom."

His decision has faced some criticism. Mr. Wolf "is a disgrace to the federal judiciary," wrote Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project, a group that advocates confirming conservative judges to the federal courts, in a Fox News commentary.

Mr. Wolf, who served as a district court judge in Massachusetts and is now a lawyer at Todd & Weld in Boston, spoke with the Monitor recently. He discussed his decision to resign from the bench, why he believes President Donald Trump is a threat to the rule of law, and how he thinks the job of a judge is often misunderstood.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity. ...