John Roberts defends supreme court as Kamala Harris lashes out at Roe ruling

Chief justice warns against linking contentious decisions with court legitimacy as vice-president attacks activist court'

US supreme court chief justice John Roberts has defended his conservative-leaning bench from attacks over its decision in June to overturn federal abortion rights, as US vice-president Kamala Harris launched a fierce attack on what she called today's activist court".

Roberts, in his first public appearance since the bombshell ruling to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision, warned against linking contentious decisions with court legitimacy, saying at an event on Friday night: The court has always decided controversial cases and decisions have always been subject to intense criticism, and that is entirely appropriate."