Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’s annual report on the judiciary—released Monday—sidestepped ongoing controversy over the Court’s ethics, instead focusing on the court’s activities from 2019.
The report, which is an annual tradition, mentioned successes within the federal court system but refrained from discussing controversial issues such as a recently-filed complaint by the anti-corruption organization Fix the Court regarding the use of outside investment funds by Supreme Court justices.
Chief Justice Roberts has not responded to the complaint or the ongoing discussions of the Supreme Court’s ethics. He instead used the report to laud the successes of the federal court system, noting that the Supreme Court heard 84 cases during the term, 64 of which were argued orally. He also highlighted the implementation of technology such as video conferencing during the pandemic.
The report also touted the confirmation of 163 judges to the lower judiciary over the past year, including Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Critics of the Trump Administration have raised questions over the lack of diversity among the nominations, noting that over 89 percent are white.
The annual report serves as a platform for the Chief Justice to highlight the successes of the federal judiciary, which is currently experiencing record backlogs and gaps in staffing. It is also viewed as an opportunity for the Chief to shape public perceptions of the court system.
