In a rare move, all nine Supreme Court Justices issued a joint statement last week addressing recent controversies surrounding conservative justices and rejecting attempts by Senate Democrats to introduce new ethics oversight measures, according to a report from The Daily Wire.
The justices’ statement came in response to the political Left’s recent efforts to generate controversy around conservative Justices Roberts, Thomas, and Gorsuch.
The statement also included a letter from Chief Justice John Roberts addressed to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin (D-IL).
In the letter, Roberts made it clear that he would not attend a hearing that Senate Democrats are proposing, stating, “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.”
The justices’ statement emphasized their intention 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.”
It went on to detail the ways in which the justices handle various matters, some of which have been targeted in recent left-wing attacks.
The letter also touched upon the issue of security, highlighting recent threats against justices, including an assassination attempt on up to three conservative justices last year by a reported leftist.
“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.”
