Somehow the N.Y. Times Made Me Sympathetic To Chief Justice Roberts
By Josh Blackman · Oct 1, 2026, 2:30 PM CDT
My 2013 book, Unprecedented , offered this vignette about how Chief Justice Roberts fled the United States to a safe refuge after the decided NFIB v. Sebelius . The day after the Court's term concluded, he left the country to teach at a summer program for law students in Malta, organized in part by the South Texas College of Law, where I teach. Before he departed, Roberts joked that he was retreat
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Layer 1 · Claims & fact checks
AI analysisLayer 3 · Reporting analysis
AI analysisAd HominemThe author attacks a group of residents rather than addressing substantive issues about the Court or Roberts.
Appeal to EmotionThe author frames the NYT piece as emotionally manipulative without providing evidence of its intent.
ExaggerationThe claim of fleeing the country is presented without supporting documentation.
Selective QuotingThe author cites a sensational headline without contextualizing the article's content.
Context
AI analysisMissing context
The article provides no context about Chief Justice Roberts' judicial record, the content of the New York Times piece, or the broader political environment surrounding the Court. It also omits any verification of the alleged protests, health incidents, or family details.
Important context
The piece references a New York Times article by Jodi Kantor and a Daily Beast story, but does not summarize their actual content or provide links, making it impossible to assess the accuracy of the author’s interpretation.
Opinion vs. reporting
AI analysisThe text is predominantly opinion and personal reflection, with occasional claims presented as fact but lacking corroborating evidence. It does not follow standard reporting practices such as balanced sourcing or verification.