Roberts jokes about trip to 'impregnable' fortress

By JOE MANDAK
Associated Press



FARMINGTON, Pa. (AP) -- U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts joked that he'll spend some time on an "impregnable island fortress" now that the court has ended a session that featured him casting the decisive vote to uphold President Barack Obama's health care law.

Responding to a question about his summer break, Roberts said he planned to teach a class for two weeks in Malta, the Mediterranean island nation.

"Malta, as you know, is an impregnable island fortress. It seemed like a good idea," Roberts said, drawing laughter from about 300 judges, attorneys and others attending a four-day conference Friday at a posh southwestern Pennsylvania resort.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_CHIEF_JUSTICE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-06-29-11-54-34

About as funny as a broken arm...

I wonder if Roberts would have changed his opinion knowing the reaction.

You think he really didn't KNOW what kind of reaction his opinion would generate?

You are right. He must have khown because he set up the Malta escape weeks ago.

Or maybe he just scheduled it for the end of the Supreme Court session and didn't care what the public reaction would be. hmmm?

lol , true, John Roberts doesn't exactly have to worry about losing an election in November.

I wonder how much of his decision was based in his desire to change the public image of the Supreme Court as being politically biased? On the other hand, there were cases of lesser importance that he could have sided with the more liberal judges on that would not have caused as much outrage among conservatives. I'll admit to being really surprised by his vote. Since being appointed he has been a staunch supporter of all things conservative. Maybe, the truth is that the ACA is a good constitutional law and he had no other choice but to uphold it.

archer wrote: Maybe, the truth is that the ACA is a good constitutional law and he had no other choice but to uphold it.

Except that he didn't say it was "good constitutional law", only that it was constitutional given the mandate is a tax. Jusdt because a bill is constitutional, doesn't mean that it's good policy for the country.

Every indication seems to say that John Roberts changed his mind. Dems must be happy that the Supremes do take months to debate before voting after the arguments end.

I'm happy he took the time to make a decision, based on the law, rather than on politics.