In a stark year-end report, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts raised alarms over increasing threats to the judiciary’s independence, warning of a rise in violent threats against judges and calls from some political figures to disregard court rulings.
Roberts condemned these developments as dangerous and detrimental to the rule of law, stressing that while criticism of the judiciary is a democratic right, there is a fine line between legitimate debate and threatening conduct.
Roberts highlighted concerning trends, including over 1,000 serious threats against federal judges investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service in the past five years. He pointed out that some judges had been provided with bulletproof vests due to these threats.
Additionally, Roberts warned about the dangers of online disinformation, fueled by social media, and cyberattacks from foreign actors designed to manipulate public opinion about court decisions.
The Chief Justice also expressed concern over political leaders suggesting the disregard of federal court rulings, noting that such calls—though sporadic—pose a significant threat to the judiciary’s role in upholding the law.
While he did not specify the cases or incidents, Roberts referenced the rising public discontent following politically charged Supreme Court rulings on abortion rights and the immunity granted to former President Donald Trump regarding actions taken during his time in office.
Roberts affirmed that while passionate reactions to court decisions are a part of democratic engagement, undermining the judiciary’s independence undermines the very foundations of democracy. He cautioned public officials to temper their criticism of the judiciary to avoid inciting dangerous responses from the public.
