Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is expressing concerns about the growing disregard for the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of major rulings expected in 2025. In his year-end report, Roberts emphasized the importance of maintaining judicial independence, urging that court decisions be honored regardless of their political implications.

“Within the past few years, however, elected officials from across the political spectrum have raised the specter of open disregard for federal court rulings,” Roberts wrote. “These dangerous suggestions, however sporadic, must be soundly rejected. Judicial independence is worth preserving.”

Roberts also warned of the rise in violence directed at judges performing their duties. He noted that the number of hostile threats against judges has more than tripled in the past decade. One reason for the increase in threats, he suggested, is public officials who accuse the judiciary of political bias without credible evidence.

While acknowledging that public officials are entitled to criticize the judiciary, Roberts cautioned that “irresponsible rhetoric can fuel dangerous behavior.”

He added, “It is not in the nature of judicial work to make everyone happy. Most cases have a winner and a loser. Every administration suffers defeats in the court system — sometimes in cases with major ramifications for executive or legislative power or other consequential topics. Nevertheless, for the past several decades, the decisions of the courts, popular or not, have been followed, and the nation has avoided the standoffs that plagued the 1950s and 1960s.”

Roberts also issued a warning that court rulings must be followed and respected, just as the Supreme Court heads into a new year with several high-stakes cases on its docket. Some of these cases could have significant political and social implications.

Major cases in 2025

Attention is focused on these five major cases:

• One of the most closely watched is the challenge to a proposed ban on TikTok, prompted by national security concerns due to the app’s ties to China. President Joe Biden signed a law that would ban the app unless it is sold to a U.S. company, and the Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether the ban should proceed.

• The Supreme Court will also hear a case challenging a Tennessee law that bans transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for minors. The ruling could set a precedent for similar laws in other states.

• Another key case will determine whether the federal government can regulate “ghost guns,” firearms made from kits that lack serial numbers. The justices will consider whether such kits, which can be assembled at home, should be classified as firearms subject to federal regulation.

• Justices will also hear a challenge to a Texas law requiring age verification for visitors to pornography websites. The ruling could influence similar laws in around 20 states.

• Lastly, the Supreme Court will address the scope of environmental impact assessments required under the National Environmental Policy Act, with the justices set to consider how broad these environmental considerations should be for federal agency actions.

As the justices prepare to rule on these major cases, which are likely to bring political and societal changes, Chief Justice Roberts is getting ahead of these decisions with the warning. He says that the rulings, no matter the outcome, will likely have a negative impact on either side of the political spectrum. However, he reiterated the decisions will be the law of the land, as intended by the U.S. government.