Chief Justice John Roberts told New Zealanders American judges should not face the same scrutiny as elected officials.
Speaking at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, Roberts reportedly said the U.S. judicial system has become too politicized, especially concerning Supreme Court justices’ confirmations.
“Judges are not politicians, and they shouldn’t be scrutinized as if they were,” Roberts said, according to the Associated Press. “You’re not electing a representative, so you’re not entitled to know what their views on political issues are.”
Roberts spoke about other struggles facing the Supreme Court too, including the advent of new technology that poses new challenges for the high court.
“There are devices now that can allow law enforcement to see through walls. Heat imaging and all this kind of thing,” Roberts said. “Well, what does that do to a body of law that’s developed from common law days in England about when you can search a house?”
He continued, “I’ll say it here: would you rather have law enforcement rummaging through your desk drawer at home, or rummaging through your iPhone? I mean, there’s much more private information on the iPhone than in most desk drawers.”
Roberts noted none of the justices were specialists in the area, so it would be up to the lawyers to explain the complex issues.
While in New Zealand, the chief justice also met with U.S. ambassador Scott Brown, the former GOP Senator from Massachusetts.
Great honor to welcome my friend Chief Justice John Roberts of the US Supreme Court to New Zealand and our Embassy pic.twitter.com/IG5mFY1SV6
— Ambassador Brown (@USAmbNZ) July 25, 2017
