In a rare move, all 9 Supreme Court justices issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the recent attacks on conservative justices by leftist protesters.
The statement said that the justices “are deeply troubled by the ongoing threats of violence and intimidation directed at our members and their families.”
“A word is necessary concerning security. Judges at all levels face increased threats to personal safety,” the letter said. “These threats are magnified with respect to Members of the Supreme Court, given the higher profile of the matters they address. Recent episodes confirm that such dangers are not merely hypothetical. Security issues are addressed by the Supreme Court Police, United States Marshals, state and local law enforcement, and other authorities. Matters considered here concerning issues such as travel, accommodations, and disclosure may at times have to take into account security guidance.”
The statement comes after a series of protests outside the homes of conservative justices, including Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh. The protests have been organized by leftist groups who are angry about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The Supreme Court justices’ statement is a strong rebuke of the leftist violence and intimidation that has been directed at them. The statement also sends a message to the American people that the Supreme Court will not be intimidated by threats or violence.
The statement from the justices also included a letter from Chief Justice John Roberts to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin (D-IL) saying that he will not attend a hearing that Senate Democrats want to hold.
“Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence,” Roberts said.
The statement from the nine justices said that they wrote it to “provide new clarity to the bar and to the public on how the Justices address certain recurring issues, and also seeks to dispel some common misconceptions.”
A new statement signed by all nine Supreme Court justices stressing their commitment to ethics principles has come under immediate fire for failing to respond to recent calls for the court to adopt a binding code of conduct. https://t.co/4So8cTX1eC
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 26, 2023
