Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a warning Tuesday about preserving "judicial independence." His comments came just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
Roberts expressed his concerns in his annual federal judiciary report. "Judicial work doesn’t make everyone happy. Most cases have winners and losers," he wrote. He emphasized that courts' decisions, though sometimes unpopular, have been followed for decades, avoiding past standoffs.
Recently, some officials have suggested disregarding court rulings. Without naming names, Roberts called these suggestions "dangerous" and stressed rejecting them. He quoted Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who said an independent judiciary is essential but vulnerable.
He urged Americans to value this legacy and protect it. Roberts cited Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, who believed cooperation among government branches is crucial for judicial impartiality and liberty.
Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor were later seen at President Biden's State of the Union address. Roberts reiterated the rule of law underpins the nation's political and economic systems.
Roberts’ own decisions have shaped the court's legacy. His ruling on immunity for Trump and blocking efforts to disqualify him from ballots were wins for Republicans. Democrats, however, criticized these rulings, with some calling for court reforms.
Last year, some lawmakers urged President Biden to bypass a judge's abortion drug ruling. He declined, and the Supreme Court later allowed the drug’s sale to continue.
Roberts has clashed with figures across the aisle. In 2018, he rebuked Trump for calling a judge an "Obama judge." In 2020, he criticized Senator Chuck Schumer for remarks during an abortion case.
Roberts recalled King George III stripping colonial judges of lifetime appointments. He warned against similar efforts undermining judicial independence. He cited Brown v. Board of Education as an example of enforcing unpopular rulings for justice.
Threats against judges have tripled in a decade, Roberts noted. He highlighted recent murders of judges and condemned violence and intimidation aimed at the judiciary.
Disinformation about court rulings also threatens independence, he warned. Social media amplifies distortions, sometimes exploited by foreign actors to deepen divisions. Roberts called for vigilance against these dangers.