Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts published his yearly report on the state of the judiciary, but stayed away from any mention of ethics controversies plaguing the court.
In the report, Roberts outlined notable decisions from 2018, such as the South Dakota v. Wayfair decision that opened the door to states raising taxes on online purchases. He also highlighted a number of accomplishments from the court, such as the launching of the National Veterans Treatment court.
However, the report was mute on the issues stemming from Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, including allegations of sexual misconduct. The hearings, which were highly charged and partisan, spurred calls from Congress to overhaul the court’s ethics rules.
Roberts, who has remained mum on the issue in public, said in the report only that, “We will remain ever mindful of our place in the constitutional system, exercising our judicial power with judgment and integrity.”
The omission of the ethics issues was notable, as Roberts himself publicly admonished President Trump in a 2018 statement for having questioned a judge’s decision. The statement was widely seen as Roberts’ rebuke to Trump’s criticism of the ongoing Mueller probe.
The report underscores Roberts’ belief in the importance of maintaining the public’s trust in the judicial system, even as some voices push for greater transparency and enhanced public accountability from the court.