Chief Justice John Roberts, at a spry 70, just gave retirement rumors a swift kick to the curb. Speaking in Buffalo, N.Y., he declared he’s not going anywhere unless his health tanks so badly he’s a burden to the Supreme Court. Looks like the left’s hopes for a vacancy just got a reality check.
Just The News reported that Roberts dropped this bombshell Wednesday while celebrating the 125th anniversary of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.
The Chief Justice, in top form, said he feels “pretty healthy” and isn’t planning to step down anytime soon. Sorry, progressives, no early Christmas present for you.
With a chuckle, Roberts shared a story about asking two close friends to warn him if his health starts slipping. When he recently checked in, they jokingly said in unison, “It’s time to go.” Roberts, clearly not amused, brushed it off, proving he’s sharper than the woke crowd’s talking points.
“I’ve sat down with them and said, ‘I want at the appropriate time’—because you don’t always notice that you’re slipping—‘I want the two of you to tell me if it’s time to go,’” Roberts recounted. The synchronized quip from his pals didn’t faze him; he’s not packing his robes just yet. Nice try, but this Chief Justice isn’t easily rattled.
Roberts was crystal clear: he’ll only retire if his health makes him a liability to the court. “I’m going out feet first,” he quipped, a jab at those salivating for his seat. That’s a bold stance in a world obsessed with pushing out anyone over 65.
Age, Roberts argued, hasn’t been a big issue on the Supreme Court, except in rare cases. When justices have lingered too long, colleagues have stepped in, and it’s “always really worked out.” No need for the left’s ageist panic—Roberts knows the system works.
The Chief Justice didn’t stop at his tenure; he aimed threats at judicial independence. President Trump’s call to impeach U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg after blocking migrant deportation flights drew Roberts’ ire. The woke brigade might cheer such overreach, but Roberts sees it for what it is: a dangerous power grab.
“The judiciary is a coequal branch of government, separate from the others with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law,” Roberts declared.
He’s not wrong—courts exist to check Congress and the executive, not to bow to political tantrums. Tell that to the Twitter mob crying for activist judges.
Roberts emphasized that the judiciary’s role includes curbing excesses from other branches. “Its job is to decide cases but, in the course of that, check the excesses of Congress or the executive,” he said. That’s a polite way of saying: back off, bureaucrats.
Unlike some who cling to power past their prime, Roberts is pragmatic. “I’m sure if your health declines, and if you recognize that you’re a burden to the court rather than part of an asset to everybody, then, it’ll be time to go,” he noted. No ego here—just a man committed to duty over drama.
Roberts’ confidence stems from history. He pointed out that the court has handled rare cases of overstaying justices with grace and resolution. The system isn’t broken, no matter how loudly the left screams for term limits.
The Chief Justice’s remarks come at a time when political pressures are mounting. Trump’s impeachment push against Boasberg is just the latest attempt to bully the judiciary into submission. Roberts’ defiance is a reminder: judges aren’t here to play favorites.
While the left dreams of stacking the court with activist clones, Roberts stands firm. His health is solid, his mind is sharp, and his commitment to an independent judiciary is unshakable. That’s got to sting for those itching to remake the court in their image.