In the classic movie Mr. Roberts, the title character had the guts to stand up to the Captain of the ship.
Not so much this Mr. Roberts.
Certainly not when women are involved.
Some background is in order before we talk about what he did -- or did not do -- most recently.
At first, the current leader attacked the forewoman of the jury. John Roberts did not protect her. He had nothing to say.
Then the current leader attacked U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson. John Roberts did not protect her either. Again he had nothing to say.
Then the current leader attacked two of the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. John Roberts did not protect them. By now it seems to be a pattern: Again he had nothing to say in defense of either woman who both serve on the Court that bears his name.
And then a U.S. Senator used the words of another Justice to call out that Justice, Brett Kavanaugh by name, along with Justice Neil Gorsuch. The Senator had the audacity to repeat Kavanaugh's words that opponents of his nomination would cause the U.S. "to reap the whirlwind." The Senator told Kavanaugh that it was Kavanaugh who "released the whirlwind and you will pay the price!" That moved John Roberts to speak. He chastised the U.S. Senator for hurling the words of Kavanaugh against Kavanaugh and Gorsuch.
We do not expect a Chief Justice of the United States to rule in favor of our cherished positions, certainly not every time and perhaps not any time. But we do reasonably expect a Chief Justice of the United States to stand up for judges who may have no-one else to stand with them in the face of such harassment.
When the Chief Justice of the United States does not behave like a Chief Justice of the United States, it is good to recognize the behavior of the person for what it is, rather than continue to hold him in high regard because of his title and in spite of all the evidence.
Including in the press.
Image of Henry Fonda and Jimmy Cagney in the movie Mr. Roberts via imdb.com.
Image of Chief Justice Roberts by Erin Schaff / New York Times.
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