This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis. It was originally published at Balls and Strikes.
Chief Justice John Roberts received applause from an audience at Rice University on Tuesday in appreciation of his defense of the judiciary from inappropriate attacks. Roberts appeared in conversation with Lee Rosenthal, a senior federal district judge, who asked the chief how he handles criticism of the Supreme Court. Roberts responded by acknowledging that “judges around the country work very hard to get it right,” and that constructive criticism is “healthy” and “important.” But he stressed that “personally directed hostility is dangerous,” and has “got to stop.”
Rosenthal replied that such dangers are “very much part of our lives these days.” During fiscal year 2024, the federal agency that provides security for court officials identified 509 threats to 379 unique judges. In 2025, there were 564 threats to 396 judges. And in 2026, there have already been 241 threats to 202 judges.
Against this backdrop, Rosenthal said that she wanted to “personally thank” Roberts “on behalf of trial judges everywhere.” Although “we know that you may not always agree with us,” she said, “we always know that you have our backs.”
This characterization—both of Roberts’ support for his fellow judges and also their perception of that support—is so generous that it arouses suspicion of sarcasm. In September 2025, a dozen sitting federal judges spoke to NBC News about how the Court’s use of the shadow docket was putting them in harm’s way.
