Consider what happens if he stays. He’s already sullied his reputation on the right, having been bludgeoned by his critics, notably Trump, for years. He’s utterly failed liberals and moderates. His legacy would be one of ongoing ineffectiveness for all parties.
Retirement would make Roberts a hero for many. He could stand up for his principles, as articulated in his opening statement during his confirmation process. (“If I am confirmed, I will be vigilant to protect the independence and integrity of the Supreme Court.”) He could enable President Biden to appoint a new chief justice, someone who could restore a smidgen of balance to an institution ideologically out of whack.
In retiring, Roberts could help the court move toward positions that more broadly reflect the opinions of most Americans, rather than those of an extremist faction.
He could bolster confidence in the court. In 2021, public opinion of the Supreme Court reached a new low, with only 40 percent of Americans voicing approval in a Gallup poll. Given this term’s decisions on guns, climate change and abortion, one can expect that rating to plummet even more.
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