John Roberts defends unpopular rulings: Justices are ‘not simply political actors’

Chief Justice John Roberts addressed public perception of the Supreme Court during a recent conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Roberts pushed back against the idea that the Justices are “political actors” making policy-based decisions. 

He maintained that the court’s rulings are based strictly on legal interpretation of the Constitution. He emphasized that the Court’s duty often involves making decisions that are unpopular with the general public, noting that their mandate is to follow the law rather than public opinion.

“I think at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, [that] we’re saying we think this is what things should be as opposed to this is what the law provides,” Roberts said. “I think they view us as truly political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do. I would say that’s the main difficulty.”

In line with his concerns, Roberts lamented a lack of public understanding regarding how the judicial process works, suggesting that many misconceptions stem from a failure to distinguish between legal reasoning and political ideology.

“We’re not simply part of the political process, and there’s a reason for that, and I’m not sure people grasp that as much as is appropriate,” Roberts said.

These comments come after the 6-3 conservative majority issued significant rulings on abortion, gun rights, and the Voting Rights Acts of 1965, many of which have sparked intense criticism from the left.

In the wake of rising security threats against the judiciary, Roberts urged critics to focus their disagreements on the substance of the rulings rather than attacking the individual judges. 

While defending the institution, Roberts conceded that the public has a fundamental right to criticize the court’s decisions, though he cautioned against viewing every legal outcome through a partisan lens.