Vice President Mike Pence criticized the jurisprudence of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in an interview, calling him a “disappointment to conservatives.”
“Look, we have great respect for the institution of the Supreme Court of the United States,” Pence told the Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody on Aug 5. “But Chief Justice John Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives—whether it be the Obamacare decision, or whether it be a spate of recent decisions all the way through Calvary Chapel.”
Roberts, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, has sided with the Supreme Court’s Democratic appointees on several issues, drawing the ire of conservatives.
“I continue to believe that the Chief Justice is animated by a desire to avoid a public perception that the court is split along ideological lines, producing in the public mind predictable outcomes along rigid 5–4 majorities in politically controversial cases,” Stein said.
“He is doing this, in his mind, to protect the integrity of the court as an impartial and unpredictable interpreter of the law, especially if he believes that a rigid polarization will eventually produce an effort by Democrats to expand the size of the court,” he added.
![Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 5, 2020. (Senate Television via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2F28%2FGettyImages-1198870195-1200x743.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
“I think it’s been a wake-up call for pro-life voters around the country who understand, in a very real sense, the destiny of the Supreme Court is on the ballot in 2020,” Pence said.
“The question is not whether our country will be Republican or Democrat or blue or red, but whether America will still be America,” Pence said, adding that President Donald Trump’s second term, if he wins, would feature a strong pro-life agenda.
“Under this president, I promise you we’re going to continue to work every day to put the right to life back at the center of law,” he said.
“I know you’re trying to goad me, but I mean, I’m so forward-looking to have an opportunity to sit with the president, or stand with the president, in debates. There’ll be plenty of time.”
Referring to questions about Biden’s mental fitness, Pence said he “can’t speak to some of what’s being discussed about him today. But the antidote is to be on that stage, to square up and be willing to debate President Donald Trump, the American people deserve nothing less.”
The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 29.