Chief justice Roberts warns intimidation and violence risk judicial independence

In sobering year-end report, chief justice laments litany of threats judges face, which he says put the rule of law at risk

Violence, intimidation, disinformation and threats to disobey lawful court rulings are putting the United States's revered principle of judicial independence in jeopardy, the chief justice of the US supreme court, John Roberts, has warned.

In a sobering end of year report, Roberts - seen as the leading rightwinger on the court's current six-to-three pro-conservative majority - laments a litany of threats contemporary judges face in America's increasingly polarised political climate, which he says are putting the rule of law at risk.