Chief Justice John Roberts: 'I Don't Think Any Of Us Have A Facebook Page Or A Tweet' (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said this weekend that he encourages clerks not to tweet, adding that none of the nine justices, to his knowledge, use Twitter and betraying that he is not sure exactly what "a tweet" is.

"Some members of the court are more adept at that than others," he said at the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference on Saturday. "I don't think any of us have a Facebook page or a tweet -- whatever that is. But technology is making inroads."

At least one justice does have a Twitter account, but it is private. Justice Stephen Breyer said in April that he made an account in 2010 to track the so-called Green Revolution in Iran following the country's 2009 presidential elections. But he told the House Appropriations general government subcommittee he was testifying in front of that he had been unsure how to erase the account.

"My name is on there, so from time to time, since I don't know how to take it off, I get requests, 'can we follow you?' which ... is quite flattering, but I wisely say no," he said in a Congressional hearing on April 14. "Judges wear black robes so that they will resist the temptation to publicize themselves, because we really speak for the law and that is to be anonymous. ... I wouldn't want followers on the Tweeter [sic] or people going to the Facebook page."

The court overall falls behind the general populace on technology, with many members especially resistant to having the court videotaped.

Roberts said on Saturday he is concerned that having cameras in the courtroom would lead to more "grandstanding," not more transparency.

"We worry about the impact on lawyers, I worry about the impact on judges ... We unfortunately fall into grandstanding with a couple of hundred people in the courtroom," he said. "I’m a little concerned about what the impact would be."

The Supreme Court is already part of "the most transparent branch of government," he said.

"Everything we do that has an impact is done in public," he said. "You don't see the deliberations of committees and cabinet. You see our work in public at the Court. Our decisions are out there.”

Watch Roberts discussing social media:

Roberts also discussed transparency in the court room:

Comments

[lawFROMNEWYORK]

03:17 PM on 07/18/2011

Horace Mann concocted, insider promoted, myopic champion of compulsory American education; all memory no connection to his charges. Folks like this place European Common Law in the trash and join with the barons.

[Djelem]

02:04 PM on 06/28/2011

He does however know what a bribe is.

[RecreationalPilot]

11:15 AM on 06/28/2011

That's OK, neither did the Founding Fathers!

Justice Thomas is the perfect person to rule on Internet, Digital Media and Stock matters!

He seems to have NO clue what they are, but sure knows how to rule on the matters!

Big Business (Yes) - American People (No)

[RecreationalPilot]

11:17 AM on 06/28/2011

Oops... Freudian Slip.

I almost can't tell Justice Thomas from Justice Robers by how they rule.

[Djelem]

02:07 PM on 06/28/2011

That's OK, Thomas wears a Freudian slip he purchased from the estate of J. Edgar Hoover.

[DogsLieMovie]

10:55 AM on 06/28/2011

Its very important NOT to be connected to your votorate. That way you can come up with some of the most astonishing legislation and take everyone by surprise. He should remain cocooned. I love a good surprise.....lets face it all the mega issues, War,deficit,economy and jobs are all so well picked over and boring we know the govt is disfunctional and we're doomed. Lets have some new stuff from a man from Mars ( stay unplugged I say).
http://www.dogslie.com ( nothing is quite as it seems)

[rory talbot]

10:49 AM on 06/28/2011

Roberts may not know what a Tweet is, but he sure knows what a corporation is: His primary constituent.

[Boomer946]

10:42 AM on 06/28/2011

Maybe there needs to be a law where all Federal judges, including the SCOTUS, must receive yearly updates on technology so they can have a better understanding of the world affected by their decisions. These SCOTUS justices live in an isolated world of privilege where they rarely have real contact with the average American. That is just as bad as nobles in the past who had no contact with the peasants. Over time the privileged lose any compassion for the masses and start making bad decisions that harm the masses.

[Matt12]

10:19 AM on 06/28/2011

Hint: What do you see when you shave, Chief Justice

[koyak23]

01:30 PM on 06/28/2011

He doesn't know what a tweet is...

He doesn't really need your hint because I'm sure he knows what a twerp is.

[dax49]

09:48 AM on 06/28/2011

This guy has brought nothing but shame to the Supreme Court- Oliver Wendell Holmes must be rolling in his grave to think this third rate republic hack is on the bench!

[craneman]

10:30 AM on 06/28/2011

Don't forget those other three bozoz, Scalia, Thomas & Alito

[Patriot86]

09:01 AM on 06/28/2011

The Rightie Supreme Corps of Amerca...where ignorance is bliss..most disgraceful court ever and Roberts is the weakest Chief Justice ever.

[pjordan52]

09:00 AM on 06/28/2011

I astonished Roberts doesn't know what a tweet is. Someone needs to inform him it's a vehicle where you can say outlandish, untrue, snarky observations without any recourse or debate about your views no matter what those views are based on. It's kind of like what he does daily on the Supreme Court, only limited to 140 characters.

[rhdsma]

08:08 AM on 06/28/2011

Sometimes it takes a while for folks to catch up with technology. Sort of like when W's dad went shopping during a campaign stop, when running against Clinton, and remarked at the scanner at the store, how he had never seen such a device. It just goes to show you how out of touch some people can be, but if tweets meant something about campaign contributions by the big corporations, Rob berts would have known all about it and how funds are transferred and channel led. The communications in the lives of every day people isn't something that high on the radar screen for the Chief Justice, but if it dealt with money he would be right there!

[Bill Sr]

05:46 AM on 06/28/2011

wonder how he feels about the world being round ?

[shanghaislim]

04:05 AM on 06/28/2011

You know what.......I don't really know either nor do I give a krap. How is it different than sms, mass sms or email. Seriously like our world needs more was to communicate 24/7?

Some of us do not care what a "tweet" is or "our Facebook status" or "how many fans" as there is so much more to try to get along with just living life...............let us be happy.

[Patriot86]

09:02 AM on 06/28/2011

I do care that Robersts allows sitting justices to take money from those who are involved in cases broght before them....most disgraced court in history.

[marilyn 63]

03:58 AM on 06/28/2011

oh Justice Roberts dont speak when you do you remove all doubt and thats not good. just a coporate citizens united tool. he never should have been tweeted on the court ahhh!! Roberts talk i mean put on the court.

[Caseybug]

03:40 AM on 06/28/2011

How did that man ever get elected to the highest court in the land?? And Stephan Breyer too. He has a twitter account and can't just ask someone how to delete it? But he can make decisions that affect all of America?

I wouldn't let these people wash my car.

[Flying Dutchman]

06:17 AM on 06/28/2011

Maybe because he was nominated in July 2005 by G W Bush as Chief Justice of the United States. Twitter wasn't launched until July 2006, a full year later....