by Mary Margaret Olohan
Conservatives are turning against Chief Justice John Roberts after the Supreme Court justice sided with liberal judges in a monumental abortion ruling.
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with liberal members of the court in the close 5-4 ruling, writing that “the Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons.”
Pro-lifers and conservatives alike had anxiously awaited Robert’s decision on the landmark abortion ruling, worrying that Roberts might side with the liberal justices based on his previous votes earlier in June.
Conservatives ripped into Roberts Monday following news of the decision. Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk called the chief justice “a disgrace” while former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee condemned Roberts as “an empty black robe.”
Political commentator Dinesh D’Souza labeled “a sizable majority of #SCOTUS justices” including Justices Souter, Kennedy, and Roberts, “unreliable turncoats.”
Republicans have nominated a sizable majority of #SCOTUS justices, yet one after another—from Souter to Kennedy to Roberts—they have proven to be unreliable turncoats. The conservative strategy of naming judges supposedly faithful to “original intent” is now a confirmed failure
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) June 29, 2020
“Roberts has destroyed any credibility the Court may have had,” tweeted commentator Mark Levin. “He’s a disgrace.”
Roberts has destroyed any credibility the Court may have had. He’s a disgrace.https://t.co/h1UglAODkV
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) June 29, 2020
The action arm of the Heritage Foundation, a D.C. based conservative think tank, accused the Supreme Court of betraying the “rule of law and the dignity of the bench.”
Unreal. Justice Roberts just voted with the four liberals on an abortion case because of stare decisis… The precedent he's upholding is from a case just four years ago, that he dissented on. If he thought the Court got it wrong four years ago, today was his chance to correct it
— Ryan T. Anderson (@RyanTAnd) June 29, 2020
“Chief Justice Roberts, who dissented in a similar case in 2016, has reversed course to cast the deciding vote to overrule the Louisiana legislature’s decision to protect women’s health,” said Executive Director Jessica Anderson in a statement.
“This is the latest in a series of judicial power grabs from the Chief Justice and the liberal wing of the court, who have consistently ruled on the basis of progressive politics instead of respecting the law, the will of voters, or the basic dignity of life.”
Heritage says John Roberts is no longer in control, dubs it "the Kagan court." pic.twitter.com/CSz8jgz4VY
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) June 29, 2020
Judicial Crisis Network President Carrie Severino called the decision a “reincarnation of the ‘abortion distortion’” and blamed Roberts for leading the justices in the decision.
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Mary Margaret Olohan is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
