U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts raised concerns about the growing threats to the independence of the judiciary in his annual year-end report. He warned that calls for violence against judges and suggestions to ignore court rulings from elected officials are “dangerous” and threaten the rule of law.
Roberts didn’t address the public’s decreasing confidence in the judicial system directly, but he highlighted issues affecting the judiciary’s safety and independence. These threats include a rise in violent threats and online intimidation against judges, disinformation spread on social media, and cyber threats from foreign countries.
The U.S. Marshals Service has investigated over 1,000 serious threats against federal judges in the last five years. Some judges have even been given bulletproof vests for protection. Additionally, Roberts pointed out the dangers of hackers stealing sensitive information and foreign actors spreading false information about court cases online to create chaos.
Roberts also expressed concern about some political leaders suggesting that federal court rulings should be ignored. He did not name specific cases but emphasized that these calls must be rejected, no matter how occasional they are.
The Supreme Court has faced controversial decisions recently, such as the 2022 ruling that rolled back abortion rights, which led to protests and threats. There were also controversies over ethics, with some members of the Supreme Court being investigated for accepting gifts and travel.
While Roberts acknowledged that court decisions often provoke strong reactions, he emphasized that criticism is normal. However, public officials should be careful with their words to avoid inciting dangerous reactions. He stressed that public engagement with the courts is important for a strong democracy, but inciting violence or making baseless allegations can harm the system’s integrity.
