Not With A Bang, But A Whimper

 John Roberts, in his end-of-year report, on the criticism of Judge Aileen Cannon:

The sentence reads: “Within the past year we also have seen the need for state and federal bar associations to come to the defense of a federal district judge whose decisions in a high-profile case prompted an elected official to call for her impeachment.”

Also, too, as well:

Attempts to intimidate judges for their rulings in cases are inappropriate and should be vigorously opposed. Public officials certainly have a right to criticize the work of the judiciary, but they should be mindful that intemperance in their statements when it comes to judges may prompt dangerous reactions by others.

"Intimidate" is a very loaded word in that context. I remember Judge Wayne Justice, the federal judge who applied Brown v Board to the Tyler Independent School District in 1970 and desegregated the schools. He lived in Tyler and, for a time, had protection against death threats.

I’m not saying that wasn’t wrong. I am saying the Chief Justice doesn’t like his bubble being pierced. The John Birch Society could teach the Chief Justice a few things about “intimidation” and criticism by calling for impeachment.

Forgive me if I’m not weeping for the CJ’s delicate fee-fees.

emptywheel:

John Roberts: peaceful protests targeting me are bad. 

Also John Roberts: If the President wants to sic violent protests on a co-equal branch of government, that's totally cool.

Roberts wants everybody to respect his authoritah! No matter what he does.