Chief Justice John Roberts condemned elected officials who have intimidated judges and defied court rulings, citing them in his year-end report on Tuesday as examples of “illegitimate activity” that undermines the rule of law.
Roberts did not name any specific individuals, but he did mention a federal district judge “whose decisions in a high-profile case” prompted an elected official to call for her impeachment and sparked the need for bar associations to “come to her defense.”
“Attempts to intimidate judges for their rulings in cases are inappropriate and should be vigorously opposed,” according to Roberts. “Public officials certainly have a right to criticize the work of the judiciary, but they should be mindful that intemperance in their statements when it comes to judges may prompt dangerous reactions by others.”
Throughout his nearly two-decade tenure as chief justice, Roberts has prioritized the Supreme Court’s image and kept the court above partisan politics. His remarks come as public trust in the judiciary is at an all-time low, and a heightened threat environment has fueled concerns about judges’ safety.
The report does not mention President-elect Trump, but it comes as Republicans prepare to take unified control of Washington when he returns to the White House next month. Trump has frequently accused judges overseeing his legal cases of political bias, and during his first presidential term, he received a rare public rebuke from Roberts for criticizing a judge appointed by former President Obama.
The chief justice’s report went on to criticize elected officials for openly disregarding federal court rulings, describing them as “dangerous suggestions” that should be rejected. It is unclear to whom Roberts was referring, but he stated that the calls had come “from across the political spectrum.”
“It is not the nature of judicial work to satisfy everyone. Most cases involve a winner and a loser. Every administration loses in the courts—sometimes in cases with major ramifications for executive or legislative power or other important issues,” Roberts wrote.
He has frequently used his annual report on the federal judiciary, published on New Year’s Eve, to highlight judges’ independence and physical security. In previous years, Roberts has addressed topics such as artificial intelligence.
This year, he again raised concerns about violence against judges, highlighting how threats are increasingly being made online and through doxxing. Roberts mentioned that some federal judges now have full-time security detail or are issued bulletproof vests for public appearances.
“In today’s computer era, intimidation can take many forms. “Disappointed litigants rage on the Internet over judicial decisions, urging readers to send a message to the judge,” Roberts wrote.
“They falsely claim that the judge was biased against them because of the judge’s race, gender, or ethnicity—or the political party of the President who appointed the judge. “Some of these messages encourage violence, such as setting fire to or blowing up the courthouse where the target works,” he added.
Roberts concluded by emphasizing that the federal courts, like the other branches, “must do their part” to maintain public confidence.
“We judges must stay in our assigned areas of responsibility and do our level best to handle those responsibilities fairly,” the summary of the findings states.
“We accomplish this by limiting ourselves to ‘cases or controversies’ and maintaining a healthy respect for the work of elected officials on behalf of the people they serve.
I am confident that the judges in Article III and the corresponding officials in the other branches will faithfully discharge their duties with the goal of achieving the’successful cooperation’ required for our country’s continued success,” Roberts added.