TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said Tuesday the scene at President Obama’s State of the Union address was “very troubling” and the annual speech has “degenerated to a political pep rally.”
Obama chided the court, with the justices seated before him in their black robes, for its decision on a campaign finance case.
Responding to a University of Alabama law student’s question, Roberts said anyone was free to criticize the court, and some have an obligation to do so because of their positions.
“So I have no problems with that,” he said. “On the other hand, there is the issue of the setting, the circumstances and the decorum.
“The image of having the members of one branch of government standing up, literally surrounding the Supreme Court, cheering and hollering while the court — according the requirements of protocol — has to sit there expressionless, I think is very troubling.”
Breaking from tradition, Obama criticized the court’s decision that allows corporations and unions to freely spend money to run political ads for or against specific candidates.
“With all due deference to the separation of powers the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections,” Obama said in January.
Justice Samuel Alito was the only justice to respond at the time, shaking his head and mouthing the words “not true” as Obama continued.
Roberts told the students he wonders whether justices should attend the speeches.
“I’m not sure why we’re there,” said Roberts, a Republican nominee who joined the court in 2005.
Justice Antonin Scalia once said he no longer goes to the annual speech because the justices “sit there like bumps on a log” in an otherwise highly partisan atmosphere. Six of the nine justices attended Obama’s address.
Roberts opened his appearance in Alabama with a 30-minute lecture on the history of the Supreme Court and became animated as he answered students’ questions. He joked about a recent rumor that he was stepping down from the court and said he didn’t know he wanted to be a lawyer until he was in law school.
Asked about the Senate’s method of confirming new justices, Roberts said senators improperly try to make political points by asking questions they know nominees can’t answer because of the limitations of judicial ethic rules.
“I think the process is broken down,” said Roberts.
While Associate Justice Clarence Thomas told students at Alabama last fall he saw little value in oral arguments before the court, Roberts disagreed.
“Maybe it’s because I participated in it a lot as a lawyer,” Roberts said. “I’d hate to think it didn’t matter.”
Comment by American Grand Jury:
The real issue here is Obama has absolutely NO CLASS. He is a pig when it comes to respecting other people, their rights and beliefs. May the pig wallow in his mud hole.. that is where he belongs, not living in the Whitehouse.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I would say that more troubling than anything, Mr.John Roberts allegedly “Supreme court Justice” does and has known of Obamas ineligibility for a long time.Dr. Orly Taitz hand delivered documents to Mr.Roberts secret service agent in open forum and to this date,it is reported Dr.Taitz hasn’t received one comment from Mr.John Roberts who agreed to read
her documents.This man hasn’t a moral right to speak on anything and if people heap disdain on him or the pseudo Supreme Court then it is only what they deserve.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:26 pm
I find his comment offensive. He and the other Supremes have thumbed their collective noses at the American People, and have failed to execute the Oath they took to carry out the letter of the Constitution.They have been reduced to nine impotent Capons that no more represent the CITIZENRY than the rest of the Criminals that currently inhabit OUR Government.How in the World did America allow its self to become this complacent that we will not even challenge this nonsense? They know full well that Soetoro is a Usurper and a fraud.It is my opinion that until the American People have had enough of this, its going to be all ahead full steam. The sad part of it is they probably know more about how unqualified he is than we do.That’s Treason Folks.The very Freedom of this Country lies at stake if we fail to act.Godspeed.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
As Roberts gave him the oath of office of presidency in a private room as Obama could not even say in front of witnesses, what went on in that private room, Roberts knows and in my humble opinion he knows Obama is a illegal Muslim ursuper, I think it what that one activist judge said, Why overturn a presidential election for just one person? I say is that person is destroying our country, it is the thing to do, Why do these judges not obey their own rules. God Bless America, come soon Jesus Christ, we really need you, Amen
March 10th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Goldie #3, I’ve felt all along that Justice Roberts botched up BHO’s swearing in to be POTUS on purpose so that BHO could be sworn in in a private room with a Koran. What we saw was just a photo-op of them showing BHO using the Bible instead of the Koran. Call me crazy for thinking this, but wouldn’t put it past BHO for pulling this off. He’s NOT a Christain, but a Muslim, so this proves he was actually sworn in with a Koran.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:22 am
Roberts should forward AGJ Presentments to Holder.
March 10th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Robert Laity #5:
LOL…Roberts probably used his filing system…the trash can… to dispose of the AGJ Presentments.
Holder didn’t do anything but ignore Dr. Orly Taitz’s Quo Warranto sent to him a good while back. He’d just trash the presentments, too.
March 10th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Kenya Boy was out of line.
Roberts is still a spineless coward and a traitor to the country and the Constitution.
How do you live with yourself? How do you face your wife? What are you teaching your children? You make me sick, and I’m glad my parents are dead and don’t have to witness what’s happened to this beautiful country. I will never forgive Roberts for what he’s done. COWARD LOSER CRYBABY SCUMBAG
March 10th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Perhaps Congressman Massa was not the first person to be visited by a naked Rahm Emanuel whilst in the shower!
March 10th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I watched Massa on Beck and I feel he put himself in a bind and saw no other way out than to resign. I believe him a lot more than I believe most of these politicians. I believe these Congresspeople drink a lot and fool around a LOT. I believe he is a pawn and is trying to get out and get home so he can take care of his physical problem, the cancer in his body. Rahm I would not trust with anything, he is a Zionist Jew, and I like Jewish people, the but Zionists are really a strange lot, pulls down the jewish heritage which I like as My Lord and Savior Jesus, jewish, that is the main reason, but America and the ass- in the white h ouse trying to run Israel’s business, let Israel defend herself she sees fit, I belong to outfit CUFI, christians united for Israel and as I said about let the Jews defend themselves as they see fit. They have some bright people in their country, but so many are giving them a difficult time, as if they defend themselves, it just might start a real nuclear WAR. Nobody wants that. God Bless America.
March 10th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
And hold the perfume for that pig!
March 10th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Soetoro met with this Clown Posse before the election in a closed meeting. I can only imagine what was said,and I suspect if the American People ever get the truth these folks will be exchanging their black robes for orange jump suits. What defense could convince an angry Citizenry that they were not complicit in the largest scale fraud ever perpetrated on the American People? At least a 100 million Inquiring minds want to know.Godspeed.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
@ledbythenose at 8:52,
I would love to see Roberts in an orange jumpsuit. If he had done his job and honored the Constitution we would not be in this horrible catastrophe right now. Now he’s complaining?????? Roberts is complicit and directly responsible for this and he can never make it right again. It’s a big black stain on his soul forever; that’s how I see it.
Many people will be going to prison. I say we keep Camp Gitmo opened for all of them.