Chief Justice John Roberts commended Congress and law police for safeguarding judges’ safety during the tumultuous year of 2022, which was marked by nationwide protests over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and demonstrations outside the justices’ houses.
“The law requires every judge to make an oath that he or she will do his or her duties without fear or favor, but we must ensure the judges’ protection. Roberts stated in his annual year-end report delivered on Saturday that a judicial system cannot and should not live in terror.
The chief justice thanked the U.S. Marshals, Court Security Officers, Federal Protective Service Officers, Supreme Court Police Officers, and other partners who are working to guarantee that judges can sit in courtrooms to serve the public in the coming year and beyond.
Chief Justice John Roberts commended Congress and other court officials for their efforts to protect justices in 2022.
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The May announcement of a draft judgment indicating that the Supreme Court was likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 historic case that legalized abortion statewide, provoked rallies across the country, including outside the Supreme Court building in Washington.
Outside the houses of the court’s conservative justices, crowds of pro-abortion supporters carrying posters and chanting slogans also gathered.
Nicholas John Roske, a 26-year-old Californian, was detained outside Brett Kavanaugh’s suburban house in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in June. A search of his backpack revealed a tactical police vest, a tactical knife, pepper spray, zip ties, a Glock 17 pistol, two magazines and ammunition, and a Glock 17 pistol.
The protests only intensified once the Supreme Court’s decision, written by Justice Samuel Alito and announced on June 24th, was made public.
In response to the leaking of the draft judgment, Congress established the Supreme Court Police Parity Act, which gave justices and their families with the same level of protection as federal politicians and White House personnel.
Roberts also mentioned that the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act was passed by Congress in December to better protect judges and their families.
The act was named after Anderl Salas, the 20-year-old son of New Jersey federal Judge Esther Salas, who was murdered in July of 2020 after opening the door to a man unhappy with his mother’s handling of a case.
During the incident, Salas’s spouse was injured.
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