Reality aside, Justices must be perceived as referees not players

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Political wars damage public perception of Supreme Court, Chief Justice Roberts says

Perception and reality must be separated

Speaking at a Law Day celebration in Boston, the Washington Post reported that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said that partisan extremism is damaging the public’s perception of the role of the Supreme Court, recasting the justices as players in the political process rather than its referees.

The Chief Justice was very clear that the public’s perception of the Court is a major concern of his.

“There is a major difference between perception and reality,” Roberts said. “While the reality is that the Supreme Court has become a significant player in the political process we must do whatever we can to ensure that there is absolutely no perception of that fact among the general public.”