Chief Justice Roberts Decries Threats, Urges Calm Over Court Rulings

Heated rhetoric about judges ‘not terribly helpful,’ Roberts said, warning it can fuel violence.

Chief Justice John Roberts attends the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 7, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Getty Images

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on June 28 warned that heated rhetoric against judges could spiral into violence, urging Americans to pursue legal and legislative remedies instead of threats when they disagree with court rulings.

Appearing at the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judicial conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, Roberts made his remarks the day after the Supreme Court issued its final decisions of the term, which included several closely watched rulings, including on birthright citizenship, parental rights, and online protections for minors.