Chief Justice John Roberts says Supreme Court is not political

Chief Justice John Roberts said the Supreme Court is not political, defending the Court’s legitimacy in remarks delivered at a judicial conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Roberts told the Third Circuit Bench and Bar Conference that justices are not political actors and that their rulings are guided by law rather than policy preferences. Reuters and the Associated Press both reported the remarks after he spoke at the conference on May 6.

The comments come as the Supreme Court faces continuing criticism over recent rulings and public confidence in the institution remains low. Roberts’ message was a direct response to the perception that the Court is operating like a political body.

The conference had already been publicly announced, with court documents identifying Roberts as the dinner speaker for the May 6-8 event.

Roberts’ remarks were a reminder that the Court continues to defend its independence even as it operates under intense political scrutiny.