Justice Roberts Responds To SCOTUS Leak And Vows...

Chief Justice John Roberts in a rare statement Tuesday morning confirmed the authenticity of a leaked and provisional Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. Roberts also vowed to find the source of the leak and confirmed that he has launched an investigation:

"Yesterday, a news organization published a copy of a draft opinion in a pending case. Justices circulate draft opinions internally as a routine and essential part of the Court’s confidential deliberative work. Although the document described in yesterday’s reports is authentic, it does not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., provided the following statement:

To the extent this betrayal of the confidences of the Court was intended to undermine the integrity of our operations, it will not succeed. The work of the Court will not be affected in any way.

We at the Court are blessed to have a workforce – permanent employees and law clerks alike – intensely loyal to the institution and dedicated to the rule of law. Court employees have an exemplary and important tradition of respecting the confidentiality of the judicial process and upholding the trust of the Court. This was a singular and egregious breach of that trust that is an affront to the Court and the community of public servants who work here.

I have directed the Marshal of the Court to launch an investigation into the source of the leak."

A leak from the Supreme Court is unheard of. While we all know the leak to Politico was politically motivated it compromises confidence in the courts. If the Justices change their vote, then it will be received as them being intimidated by mob rule. You can even argue the opposite if opinions do not change before the Court casts its final vote this summer—That's why the leak is so damaging. It creates a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario for the courts with the public overall involved in their decision process.

I think that Robert's investigation better turn up some serious results if confidence in the court is to be restored to any capacity. He needs to find that leak and they should be held accountable—Regardless of who they are. What do you think? Can you trust a leaky Supreme Court?