Senate Judiciary Chairman Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., last week wrote a letter to Roberts that asked for a meeting about Alito and ethics issues more broadly at the nation’s highest court.
Roberts, who as chief justice of the United States heads the judicial branch, wrote Thursday in a response to Durbin and Whitehouse that it is “rare” for a sitting chief justice to meet with legislators even in a public setting with both major political parties present.
“Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances,” Roberts wrote.
“Moreover, the format proposed — a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed interest in matters currently pending before the Court — simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable,” Roberts wrote.
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