In a carefully calibrated public appearance on Wednesday, Chief Justice John Roberts delivered a full-throated defense of judicial independence — a message clearly aimed at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, even if he never uttered the name “Trump.”
Speaking at the 125th anniversary celebration of the federal court in Buffalo, New York, Roberts described the judiciary as a “coequal branch of government” whose power to interpret the Constitution and check the excesses of the legislative and executive branches is foundational to American governance.
“The judiciary is a coequal branch of government, separate from the others with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law, and strike down, obviously, acts of Congress or acts of the president,” Roberts said to extended applause.
Though he avoided direct references to the ongoing friction between President Trump and the courts — including recent calls by Trump allies to impeach judges who oppose his agenda — Roberts’ message was unmistakably a response to that climate. It echoed a statement he issued earlier this year in which he warned that “impeachment is not how you register disagreement with decisions.”
Roberts’ remarks came just weeks before the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in one of the most politically charged cases of the year: Trump’s attempt to redefine birthright citizenship. While the Chief Justice steered clear of that case, his framing of the judiciary’s role in checking executive overreach could easily be read as a quiet signal about the Court’s resolve to guard its constitutional duties — even under intense political pressure.
He also pushed back gently against critics of the Court’s recent precedent-breaking decisions, particularly the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. Roberts defended the concept of overturning past rulings, stating:
“The idea that it’s invariably a bad thing to overrule precedent is, I think, quite mistaken… At the same time, you can’t do it willy-nilly.”
His comments align with his long-standing judicial philosophy: institutional stability and constitutional fidelity, balanced by a willingness to correct past errors when warranted.
The timing of Roberts’ remarks carries weight. The Supreme Court has been inundated with Trump-era cases, many landing on its emergency docket, from immigration enforcement under the Alien Enemies Act to structural shakeups in federal agencies and executive power disputes.
Though President Trump has recently been more measured in his public comments about the judiciary — stating he would “honor future Supreme Court rulings” — his administration has also aggressively interpreted ambiguous court decisions in its favor, such as in the wrongful deportation of a Maryland man to El Salvador.
Roberts’ speech served as a not-so-subtle warning: the judiciary is watching — and it will not be intimidated or steamrolled.
Turning briefly to personal matters, Roberts — now 70 — addressed the question of retirement with characteristic wit. Asked if he ever considered stepping down, he flatly replied: “No.” He added that he has tasked close friends with the job of telling him when it might be time.
“After a long pause,” he quipped, “both friends simultaneously joked that it was already time.”
But for now, Roberts assured the audience that he remains “pretty healthy”, and with a touch of dark humor, declared, “I’m going out feet first.”
