Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is now publicly defending the legitimacy of federal judges and the judicial branch itself as President Donald Trump continues to attack judges who rule against him.
CNN reported Wednesday that during remarks at an event in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, Roberts argued that federal judges should have the right to do their Constitutionally authorized jobs without political interference. Without mentioning Trump's name, the 20-year chief justice reiterated that judges must have the "independence" to render decisions regardless of who is in power.
"In our Constitution, judges and the judiciary is a co-equal branch of government, separate from the others, with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law and strike down, obviously, acts of Congress or acts of the president," Roberts said. "And that innovation doesn't work if the judiciary is not independent."
READ MORE: 'An embarrassment': Marjorie Taylor Greene buried over her committee hearing meltdown
"It's job is to obviously decide cases. But in the course of that, check the excesses of Congress or of the executive, and that does require a degree of independence," he added as the crowd cheered.
CNN host Erin Burnett noted the chief justice's careful delivery, saying that he "knows the weight of every word." And reporter Kristen Holmes observed that while Roberts doesn't usually weigh in on political issues, the chief justice's remarks came at a time that Trump is "railing against judges."
"[Trump] has called for impeachment. Not just that, his followers have doxed judges. We know judges have had to have increased security — particularly around immigration —saying that they were trying to stand in his way, accusing them of being liberal judges," Holmes said. "This is a very important context around Roberts speaking out at this time."
According to CBS affiliate WVIB, Roberts was in Buffalo on Wednesday night for the Western District of New York 125th anniversary celebration.
READ MORE: 'Buyers' remorse': Some Supreme Court Justices may regret letting Trump think he's a 'king'
Watch the video below, or by clicking this link.