Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi / NLJ

In his first public statements about the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. said in a video posted Saturday that the crisis is "the world's way of saying to mankind, 'you're not in charge.'" Roberts also praised "the boundless courage of the heroic health care workers" who have worked to save infected patients.

Roberts made the remarks in a pretaped video commencement speech recorded at a courtyard of the Supreme Court building. He was addressing students at Westminster School, a college preparatory school at Simsbury, Connecticut, where his son Jack was a member of the graduating class.

The chief justice urged students to "not let the extraordinary events of the past few months obscure your genuine accomplishments or cause you to overlook how fortunate you have been." He also told them, "you've been thrust into a jarring and unexpected world … not of your making. The pandemic has or will affect practically everyone in the world in one way or another."

One example in his own life, Roberts said, was the necessity for fellow justices to conduct conferences and oral arguments remotely by phone. That disrupted the justices' long-standing tradition of shaking hands with each other before such events to underscore their "common calling" in spite of disagreements they may have, Roberts said. "We, of course, cannot shake each other's hand now," Roberts said. "I look forward to the day when that tradition can be revived."

On a lighter note, Roberts said someone had asked him whether the justices wore their robes when they participated in oral arguments from home. "I didn't know if the person was asking judicial or bath," Roberts said.

Here is a transcript of Roberts' remarks:

"Members of the Westminster class of 2020, congratulations. I wish we were gathered at Westminster on a perfect day in May, rather than connected by one-way video. But on the bright side, you have the luxury of a fast-forward button right in front of you.

"Graduates, do not let the extraordinary events of the past few months obscure your genuine accomplishments or cause you to overlook how fortunate you have been. You have enjoyed a special opportunity to learn, to develop talents and skills, and to grow as a member of a caring community. You have enjoyed blessings not of your making. But now you've been thrust into a jarring and unexpected world also not of your making. The pandemic has or will affect practically everyone in the world in one way or another.

"To take a small example, the Supreme Court remains open for business, but we've had to close our building to the public. We have been conducting conferences and arguments over the telephone to keep up with our work. One consequence of the pandemic is that we have had to dispense with the tradition Supreme Court justices have followed for more than a century. Over that time, the justices have begun every conference or argument session by gathering and shaking each other's hand. It's a small gesture, but it reminds us that whatever our differences, we are united in a common calling. We of course cannot shake each other's hand now. I look forward to the day when that tradition can be revived.

"Now as for working remotely, I was asked whether the justices participating in arguments from their homes would wear robes. I didn't know if the person was asking judicial or bath.

"Members of the class of 2020, this graduation season is not what you anticipated. I'm not talking about missed ceremonies or parties. I'm talking about the level of uncertainty you face at this important time of transition. I think the pandemic is the world's way of saying to mankind, 'You're not in charge.'

"Just a few months ago, we could sit back and revel in all that we had accomplished. Just one example of our progress, the year I graduated from high school, the mobile phone was invented. It weighed two and a half pounds and was a foot long. You could talk on it for 30 minutes if you had charged it for 10 hours. Now you can talk to and see someone on the other side of the globe with a device the size of a playing card. We have driverless cars. There's talk of going to Mars. We have a good friend named Siri who never tires of talking with us and knows a lot about everything, which means we do too.

"Now everything seems precarious. Go to Mars? We don't even know if we can go outside. Many of you don't know if you'll be able to go to campus in the fall. The pandemic has pierced our illusion of certainty and control.

"Now here's something you probably don't want to hear just as you're leaving high school, but you will be tested, as will your counterparts in the classes of 2020 from around the country. I'm sure you'll get a big set of grades on the occasion of your 25th reunion. Pundits and commentators will look back at your class in 2045 and ask, 'How did they manage in college?' With jumbled schedules, a good bit of remote learning, and other changes in teaching methods.

"What about jobs and careers? How did that work out? Their summer plans in 2020 certainly went awry. Did that pattern follow them as they started out in an economy affected in uncertain ways by the virus? Did they make new types of choices about where to live? Did they travel less? Did they confront a new world order? These concerns may seem considerably down the road, but the effects of the pandemic will almost certainly follow you as you grow.

"Your class is probably one of a handful of the most challenged high school graduating classes since the class of 1942, whose members went from graduation to war or to harsh work in the factories. Today we call those graduates part of the greatest generation. What are they going to call you? Your challenge is not as great, but it's big. And it's yours.

"There are three things you might want to focus on to meet that challenge. The first is humility. The pandemic should teach us at least that. We can do a lot, but that should not be the measure of who we are. A grounded sense of humility should make us appreciate more. The various communities that help sustain us, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, schools, faith communities. The pandemic should teach us that as well. These groups both need and offer another critical virtue, compassion. Compassion for the sick and dying of course, but others are suffering too. And many will be for a long time. Those who have lost jobs or small businesses or whose hopes and dreams may be slowly drifting out of reach.

"Know that those you meet as you move forward, to and through adulthood, may bear scars you cannot see. And of course, you will need courage. Not the boundless courage of the heroic health care workers, but enough courage to live free in an uncertain world, recognizing that pandemic or no, this is your moment. Your time to begin leaving your mark on the world with a little humility, a little compassion, and a little courage. I think you'll do just fine."

 

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