Chief Justice John Roberts Stresses Court’s Independence After Kavanaugh Confirmation

Roberts, speaking at a University of Minnesota event, acknowledged “the contentious events in Washington in recent weeks.”

By Dominique Mosbergen 

The complete report including multiple videos of Roberts speech is here. 

The following are excerpts from the report and Roberts speech:

Addressing the bitter, partisan battle over Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, Chief Justice John Roberts reaffirmed on Tuesday the court’s commitment to independence.

Acknowledging what he described as “the contentious events in Washington in recent weeks,” Roberts ― speaking to a packed auditorium at the University of Minnesota ― stressed the importance of keeping the judiciary separate from “political branches” and warned of the dangers that can arise when the court bows to political pressure.

“I have great respect for our public officials. After all, they speak for the people, and that commands a certain degree of humility from those of us in the judicial branch who do not,” the chief justice said. “We do not speak for the people, but we speak for the Constitution. Our role is very clear: We are to interpret the laws and Constitution of the United States and ensure that the political branches act within them.”

“That job obviously requires independence from the political branches,” he continued.

“Without independence, there is no Brown v. Board of Education,” he said, referring to the landmark 1954 decision that outlawed segregated public schools. “Without independence, there is no West Virginia v. Barnette, where the court held that the government could not compel school children to salute the flag.”
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That's all fine oratory about independent jurists, but Roberts has to explain why the Supreme Court has most of the time voted along party lines, especially his Supreme Court.