Chief justice John Roberts calls for end to ‘dangerous’ hostility toward judges

The Guardian US News
by Guardian staff and agency
March 17, 2026
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3 min read

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Chief Justice Roberts publicly called for an end to personal attacks on judges, citing threats to judicial independence.

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Chief Justice John Roberts called Tuesday for an end to personal attacks on judges, describing such hostility as "dangerous" and saying "it's got to stop." The statement came days after President Trump posted criticism on social media targeting judges who have ruled against him and his administration, though Roberts did not name Trump directly. The rebuke reflects escalating tension between the executive branch and the judiciary, with the chief justice implicitly pushing back against the president's public attacks on judicial independence. Roberts' intervention signals the judiciary's concern that sustained criticism of individual judges undermines public confidence in the courts and the rule of law. The friction highlights a fundamental conflict between Trump's willingness to attack judges who oppose his policies and institutional norms that traditionally shield the judiciary from partisan criticism.

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