Trending Now - Chief Justice Roberts Calls for an End to Personal Attacks on Judges
WHO:
Chief Justice John Roberts
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal thanked Chief Justice John Roberts for his support, stating, “we always know that you have our backs and that means a great deal.”
Chief Justice John Roberts
President Donald Trump
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
WHAT:
Chief Justice John Roberts stated, “The problem sometimes is that the criticism can move from a focus on legal analysis to personalities. And you see from all over, I mean, not just any one political perspective on it, that it's more directed in a personal way, and that, frankly, can be actually quite dangerous.”
Trump described the Supreme Court as “inept and embarrassing” and stated that the justices are “hurting our country.”
Trump referred to Judge Boasberg as “Wacky, Nasty, Crooked, and totally Out of Control” in a post on Truth Social.
Roberts stated, “Judges around the country work very hard to get it right, and if they don’t, their opinions are subject to criticism,” emphasizing the difference between legal criticism and personal attacks.
Trump described the Supreme Court as a “weaponized and unjust political organization” that is “hurting our country” in a post on Truth Social.
Trump criticized Judge Boasberg, calling him “wacky, nasty, crooked and totally out of control” in a post on Truth Social.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized Judge Murphy for his rulings, questioning how many times he could be reversed in one year.
Chief Justice John Roberts stated, “Judges around the country work very hard to get it right, and if they don’t, their opinions are subject to criticism,” emphasizing the difference between legal criticism and personal attacks.
Trump described the Supreme Court as a “weaponized and unjust political organization” that is “hurting our country” in a post on Truth Social.
Chief Justice John Roberts condemned personal criticism of federal judges as “dangerous” and stated it “has got to stop.”
Roberts noted that there were 564 threats reported against judges in the fiscal year ending in September 2025, an increase from the previous year.
Trump criticized Judge Boasberg, calling him “wacky, nasty, crooked and totally out of control” in a post on Truth Social.
Trump expressed being “absolutely ashamed” of the Supreme Court justices who ruled against him, including Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized Judge Murphy for his rulings, questioning how many times he could be reversed in one year.
Judge Murphy issued a preliminary injunction blocking a new vaccine schedule and invalidated a newly appointed vaccine advisory committee.
WHERE:
Remarks by Chief Justice John Roberts were made at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston, Texas.
Judge Brian Murphy's ruling occurred in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts.
WHEN:
Roberts made his remarks on March 17th, 2026, during a forum at Rice University.
Trump’s comments about Judge Boasberg were made on March 15th, 2026.
Judge Murphy's ruling on the vaccine policy occurred on March 16th, 2026.
Roberts made his remarks on March 17th, 2026, during a forum at Rice University.
Roberts made his remarks on March 17th, 2026.
Trump’s comments about Judge Boasberg were made on March 15th, 2026.
The fiscal year for the U.S. Marshals Service ended in September 2025.
Judge Murphy's ruling on the vaccine policy occurred on March 16th, 2026.
WHY:
Roberts emphasized that personal attacks on judges detract from legal analysis and can lead to serious threats against the judiciary, noting that violent threats against judges have surged in recent years.
Roberts warned that personal attacks on judges are not limited to any one political perspective and can lead to serious threats against the judiciary.
Roberts emphasized that personal attacks on judges detract from legal analysis and can lead to serious threats against the judiciary.
Roberts warned that personal attacks on judges are not limited to any one political perspective and can lead to serious threats against the judiciary.
Roberts emphasized that personal attacks on judges detract from legal analysis and can lead to serious threats against the judiciary.
Trump’s criticism of judges stems from rulings that blocked his administration's policies.
HOW:
Roberts called for an end to personally directed hostility, stating, “Personally directed hostility is dangerous and it’s got to stop.”
Roberts called for an end to personally directed hostility, stating, “Personally directed hostility is dangerous, and it’s got to stop.”
Roberts called for an end to personally directed hostility, stating, “Personally directed hostility is dangerous, and it’s got to stop.”
Roberts called for an end to personal hostility directed at judges, highlighting the difference between legal criticism and personal attacks.
The U.S. Marshals Service increased funding for judges' security in response to rising threats.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 09:12 UTC)
In a recent statement, Chief Justice John Roberts warned that personal attacks on judges detract from legal analysis and can lead to serious threats against the judiciary, urging for an end to such hostility. His comments come as Trump criticized the Supreme Court as “inept and embarrassing,” claiming the justices are “hurting our country,” and also referred to Judge Boasberg with derogatory terms on Truth Social. Roberts highlighted the alarming rise in violent threats against judges, emphasizing that personally directed hostility is dangerous and must stop.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 01:27 UTC)
At a forum at Rice University on March 17, Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized the importance of distinguishing between legal criticism and personal attacks on judges, warning that such hostility can lead to serious threats against the judiciary. In response, Trump took to Truth Social to label the Supreme Court as a "weaponized and unjust political organization" and criticized Judge Boasberg as "wacky, nasty, crooked and totally out of control." Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche questioned Judge Murphy's rulings, suggesting that his decisions were being reversed too frequently, highlighting the ongoing tensions within the judicial system.
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(UPDATED March 17, 2026 23:11 UTC)
During a forum at Rice University today, Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized the importance of distinguishing between legal criticism and personal attacks on judges, warning that such hostility can lead to serious threats against the judiciary. He called for an end to personally directed hostility, stating, “Personally directed hostility is dangerous, and it’s got to stop.” In response, Trump criticized the Supreme Court on Truth Social, labeling it a “weaponized and unjust political organization” that is “hurting our country.”
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(UPDATED March 17, 2026 21:11 UTC)
Chief Justice John Roberts spoke at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy today, condemning personal criticism of federal judges as “dangerous” and calling for it to stop, while noting a troubling rise in threats against judges, with 564 reported last fiscal year. In a separate incident, President Trump criticized Judge Boasberg on March 15, labeling him “wacky, nasty, crooked and totally out of control,” and expressed shame over Supreme Court justices who ruled against him. Meanwhile, Judge Brian Murphy issued a preliminary injunction on March 16, blocking a new vaccine schedule and invalidating a newly appointed advisory committee, prompting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to question how often Judge Murphy could be reversed in a year.