John Roberts’ year-end report calls for judicial security but avoids abortion debate

The supreme court chief justice, John Roberts, addressed the need for increased security for federal judges in his year-end report. Photograph: Reuters

The supreme court chief justice, John Roberts, has focused a year-end judiciary report on the need for stepped up security for federal judges, amid a surge in threats and as the United States is embroiled in a bitter debate over abortion.

But Roberts chose to skirt around all the controversy engulfing the court in 2022, especially the chapter as its conservative super-majority struck down federal abortion rights afforded by the court’s landmark 1973 decision in Roe v Wade, in a decision that was scandalously leaked in the spring and then confirmed in June.