Chief Justice John Roberts says justices aren’t ‘political actors’
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Chief Justice John Roberts defended the Supreme Court against perceptions that justices are political actors making policy decisions rather than interpreting law, emphasizing the court’s role in applying the Constitution.
- Speaking at a legal conference in Hershey, Roberts highlighted the public’s misunderstanding of the court’s function and noted that the court often must make unpopular rulings based on legal interpretation.
- Roberts acknowledged the right to criticize the court but warned against focusing excessively on politics and urged that criticism target decisions, not individual judges.
- He did not reference specific cases but underscored the court’s responsibility to issue rulings grounded in constitutional interpretation, even when they provoke public disapproval.
- Roberts also expressed concern about rising security threats to judges, stressing that personal attacks on judiciary members can lead to serious consequences.
