In his annual year-end report, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts expressed disdain for public officials who have tried to coerce and intimidate judges over the last year.
Attempts to go beyond standard criticism of judges as they weigh in on important cases, to outright intimidation or calls to ignore their decisions, are examples of “illegitimate activity,” Roberts said in his annual report released every New Year’s Eve.
“Attempts to intimidate judges for their rulings in cases are inappropriate and should be vigorously opposed,” Roberts wrote in the 15-page report. “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.”
Roberts homed in on four points that members of the Supreme Court and lower-level courts faced this year. These areas of concern were violence, intimidation, disinformation, and threats to defy court judgments.
The report comes after a summer of opposition against the Supreme Court following attacks on Republican-appointed Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Thomas has faced multiple accusations of receiving lavish gifts from a wealthy donor and not properly claiming them. Alito, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, has also been accused of having inappropriate relationships with wealthy donors and was the target of an attack for having two flags that were flown outside his houses.
While Roberts didn’t mention any actors by name, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) did threaten to file articles of impeachment against Alito and Thomas earlier this year.
“Within the past year we also have seen the need for state and federal bar associations to come to the defense of a federal district judge whose decisions in a high-profile case prompted an elected official
to call for her impeachment,” Roberts wrote. “Attempts to intimidate judges for their rulings in cases are inappropriate and should be vigorously opposed.”
Roberts noted that threats against justices and judges went beyond just being political.
“Today, in the computer era, intimidation can take different forms,” Roberts wrote. “Disappointed litigants rage at judicial decisions on the Internet, urging readers to send a message to the judge. They falsely claim that the judge had it in for 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 promote violence — for example, setting fire to or blowing up the courthouse where the target works.”
Doxxing was another serious problem. Just two years ago, an armed man was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s residence.
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Roberts ended the report with a reminder to all judges of the important role they have in preserving the public’s trust in the justice system.
“We do so by confining ourselves to live ‘cases or controversies’ and maintaining a healthy respect for the work of elected officials on behalf of the people they represent,” Roberts wrote. “I am confident that the judges in Article III and the corresponding officials in the other branches will faithfully discharge their duties with an eye toward achieving the ‘successful cooperation’ essential to our Nation’s continued success.”
