John Roberts Stuns Twitter With Rare Statement Rebuking Trump: ‘Extraordinary and Unprecedented’
Chief Justice John Roberts surprised pretty much everyone with his rebuke of President Donald Trump, after the commander in chief, derided a judge who ruled against him as an “Obama judge.”
Trump has criticized judges who have ruled against him numerous times over the years, but his latest attack on a judge who ruled against his migrant asylum policy drew Roberts’ rebuke.
“We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges,” Roberts said. “What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.”
It was a rare rebuke from the Supreme Court justice, and one that surprised everyone, even if some were more skeptical than others:
So fun, watching the people who helped this horrible process along suddenly discover that it went a little too far for their taste. https://t.co/l9mDQDnB3T
— David Roberts (@drvox) November 21, 2018
Wow. After Trump said he was going to file a complaint about the 9th Circuit Court, Chief Justice John Roberts said: “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges…” Per @JoanBiskupic pic.twitter.com/xK2o8GMSI8
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 21, 2018
The most stunning thing about this John Roberts statement is that he gave it to the AP, not during public remarks or in a law journal or any of the myriad ways he could have softened its edges. He wanted it out there and now, through the front door. https://t.co/MBzRxXFBhJ
— Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) November 21, 2018
The fact Chief Justice Roberts even publicly said this is astounding https://t.co/RjeNoTs3zl
— Evan Siegfried (@evansiegfried) November 21, 2018
To the SCOTUS PR person whose idea it was to release Roberts’ statement the day before Thanksgiving, dominating a slow news day and framing the Trump attack around holiday gratitude for an independent judiciary: ?
— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) November 21, 2018
chief justice roberts rebuke of p. trump’s reaction to a 9th circuit judge’s ruling on immigrants was welcome and important.
the constitutional framework of the American govt is designed to withstand presidential abuse.
no trump hissy fit will change that— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) November 21, 2018
A very rare statement by Chief Justice Roberts in response to Trump’s attack on the judge who blocked his asylum ban as a “Obama judge.” Let’s hope our judiciary continues to fiercely protect their independence in the years ahead. https://t.co/30WWjUw4zm
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) November 21, 2018
John Roberts is a sanctimonious clown who not only is NOT an “independent” but has actively pulled the judiciary and our country further to the right by overturning or rewriting democratically enacted legislation to further his conservative agenda, but go off I guess pic.twitter.com/3Hi4SZWQR0
— Meagan Hatcher-Mays (@importantmeagan) November 21, 2018
Better late than never. CJ John Roberts has not defended any of the other judges attacked by the President.
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) November 21, 2018
At long last, have you no shame moment? We need a million more: Rebuking Trump’s criticism of ‘Obama judge,’ Chief Justice Roberts defends judiciary as ‘independent’ https://t.co/Fvq5a0shIu
— Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) November 21, 2018
It is extraordinary and unprecedented for a SCOTUS Chief Justice, or anyone on the bench, to publicly rebuke the President.
But here we are.
Chief Justice Roberts responds to request for comment on Trump saying a 9th circuit judge who ruled against him is an “Obama judge.” pic.twitter.com/cFN2tkPkEL
— errol barnett (@errolbarnett) November 21, 2018
It is long past time to check the autocratic words and actions of Trump. Nice to learn that Chief Justice Roberts has a spine. Maybe Mitch and a few more Congressional Republicans can stand up to their President, and rebuke his dictatorial disposition! https://t.co/4b4TjIX5dE
— John Dean (@JohnWDean) November 21, 2018
[image via screengrab]
