US District Judge Mark L. Wolf forced the FBI and the Justice Department to admit publicly in 1997 that South Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger was an informant, then convened months-long hearings that exposed the corrupt relationship between the gangster and his handlers.

As the saga unfolded, Wolf threatened to order the Justice Department’s second-in-command jailed for contempt if he refused to disclose whether four reputed mobsters were also FBI informants.

On Monday, Wolf, who was appointed to the bench by Republican President Ronald Reagan 40 years ago and resigned last week, reflected on a career guided by truth and justice during a phone interview with the Globe. He also spoke about his decision to resign so that he’s no longer bound by judicial ethics rules that have preve

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