A few days after Justice Ginsburg passed away, I speculated that Chief Justice Roberts could let President Biden replace him to avoid Court packing. I am renewing this speculation. If Diocese is any prediction, Roberts will consistently find himself in dissent. And the troika of progressive no longer have any incentive to join him. He will consistently stand alone. I am unable to think of a Chief Justice in history who consistently voted alone, in dissent, or in the majority.
And this solo act will not be fun. He is not like Justice Thomas, who spent decades writing solo opinions. Indeed, the Chief really seemed wounded by Justice Gorsuch’s barbs. I suspect that feud has been simmering for some time, but has only now become public.
Roberts’s moment in the sun passed in the blink of an eye. I would not be surprised if he steps down soon. To cement his legacy (in his mind at least), the Chief will let a Democratic President and a sharply-divided Congress replace him. And I think President Biden would be prudent to elevate Elena Kagan as Chief Justice. She would be confirmed.
Founded in 1968, Reason is the magazine of free minds and free markets. We produce hard-hitting independent journalism on civil liberties, politics, technology, culture, policy, and commerce. Reason exists outside of the left/right echo chamber. Our goal is to deliver fresh, unbiased information and insights to our readers, viewers, and listeners every day. Visit https://reason.com