Chief Justice Roberts Defends Court's Nonpolitical Role

HERSHEY, Pennsylvania -- Chief Justice John Roberts defended the Supreme Court's role on Wednesday, telling judges and lawyers that justices are not political actors and that their decisions are guided solely by the law, not policy preferences.

Speaking at a conference for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Roberts addressed widespread public perceptions amid declining confidence in the court. "I think, at a very basic level, people think we're making policy decisions, we're saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides," he said. "I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don't think is an accurate understanding of what we do."

His comments came about a week after the court ruled that a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, weakening a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. That decision has prompted redistricting efforts in several states. The court has also issued recent landmark rulings overturning the constitutional right to abortion, expanding Second Amendment protections, ending race-conscious admissions in higher education, granting former President...