Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts praised federal district justices in his annual year-end report, and he might have done so as a response to president-elect Donald Trump, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The annual summary was released Saturday. In the report, Roberts wrote, "The men and women across the country who today serve as district judges are generally not well known . . . but they deserve tremendous respect. While the Supreme Court is often the focus of public attention, our system of justice depends fundamentally on the skill, hard work, and dedication of those outside the limelight."
While on the campaign trail, Trump took aim at federal district court judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was presiding over two of the cases of fraud against Trump over Trump University real estate seminars. Trump, during his presidential campaign, said Curiel, was biased against him because of Trump's promises to crack down on illegal immigrants coming from Mexico.
"I have a judge who is a hater of Donald Trump, a hater," he said.
Roberts did not mention Curiel by name in the report. He compared today's district judges to President George Washington's first appointees to district courts in 1789.
"Since Washington made his first 13 appointments, each American generation has produced selfless, patriotic, and brave individuals who have stepped forward to serve their country with distinction as federal district judges," Roberts wrote.
Roberts' report pointed out prisoners petitioning district courts increased in 2016 by 55 percent, according to the Journal.
Curiel was born in Indiana. Trump's lawyers have not set any allegations of bias against Curiel, and in November 2016, Trump's lawyers settled the cases for $25 million.
Trump has been critical of Roberts before. In June of 2016, he slammed the chief justice for allowing Obamacare to stay in effect twice.
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