John Roberts Addresses Possible Retirement

Original article here

Chief Justice John Roberts addressed ongoing speculation about his possible retirement during a public appearance in Buffalo, New York, this week.

The comments come four months into President Donald Trump’s second term, amid growing interest in whether Roberts would allow Trump to appoint another justice to the Supreme Court.

Roberts, appointed in 2005 by President George W. Bush, has served as Chief Justice for nearly two decades. His tenure has included pivotal decisions such as the legalization of gay marriage in 2015 and the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Speaking to a crowd of lawyers and legal observers, Roberts dismissed the idea that his departure was imminent. “I’m going out feet first,” he said, adding a touch of humor to his response, as reported by Trending Politics.

Roberts recounted a conversation he had with two individuals he trusts, in which he asked them to tell him when it might be time to retire. He said both responded, “‘It’s time to go.’ So I said, ‘Alright, never mind.’”

Though he joked about staying indefinitely, Roberts acknowledged that declining health could eventually factor into a decision to step down. He said if he became a burden to the court, that would signal the time to leave.

His comments were delivered during a celebration marking the 125th anniversary of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. However, his remarks on retirement quickly overshadowed the anniversary event.

Roberts addressed the broader topic of aging justices. When asked if those in their late 80s should still be deciding complex constitutional matters, he noted that such situations have occurred only “a handful of times.”

He said that while some justices may have stayed longer than advisable, such instances have typically resolved themselves without major disruption. Roberts did not mention specific names in this context.

At 70, Roberts is younger than Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Sonia Sotomayor. He stated that he still feels “pretty healthy” on most days, indicating no immediate reason to consider retirement.

The Chief Justice also mentioned that he visited his childhood home in Buffalo before attending the event, underscoring a personal connection to the location.

In response to a question about the rise in presidential impeachments, Roberts stated that impeachment should not be used to express disagreement with judicial decisions.

Calls for term limits for Supreme Court justices have increased in recent years. Despite this, Roberts and others on the bench have largely dismissed such proposals.

Justice Samuel Alito, who is part of the court’s conservative bloc, has also rejected the idea of stepping down during Trump’s term. Sources close to him insist that he does not view his role through a political lens.

A source quoted by the Wall Street Journal denied rumors that Alito, age 74, is preparing to retire to allow Trump to appoint a younger conservative replacement.

Roberts’ public remarks reaffirmed his intention to remain on the court and emphasized a nonpartisan approach to judicial service.