Here’s what Democrats are trying now.
A new impeachment effort targeting John Roberts is intensifying the political war surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court after years of major conservative victories under President Donald Trump.
Representative Steve Cohen introduced articles of impeachment against Roberts this week, accusing the chief justice of leading what Democrats describe as an increasingly partisan court.
While the effort is considered unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled Congress, the resolution highlights the growing anger on the left over the court’s conservative direction and its recent rulings on abortion, voting rights, executive power, and federal regulations.
Democrats Escalate Their Fight Against The Supreme Court
The impeachment push comes after several years of mounting Democratic frustration with the Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority.
Since Trump appointed three justices during his first term, the court has issued a series of rulings celebrated by conservatives but sharply criticized by progressives.
Those decisions have included:
- Overturning Roe v. Wade
- Restricting affirmative action policies
- Expanding Second Amendment protections
- Limiting federal agency authority
- Narrowing parts of federal voting rights law
Many conservatives argue the court is finally returning to a strict interpretation of the Constitution after decades of judicial activism.
Democrats, however, claim the court has become too political and too favorable toward Republican priorities.
What Roberts Is Being Accused Of
Cohen’s impeachment resolution includes six separate articles against Roberts.
The accusations largely focus on claims that the Supreme Court has acted inconsistently and politically under his leadership.
Among the allegations:
- Weakening voting rights protections
- Allowing partisan gerrymandering
- Supporting campaign finance rulings that benefited wealthy donors
- Expanding presidential immunity powers
- Increasing the use of emergency rulings without full explanations
- Failing to recuse himself from certain cases connected to legal firms associated with his wife’s recruiting work
The resolution argues Roberts failed to properly safeguard public confidence in the judiciary.
Critics of the impeachment effort say the accusations are politically motivated and amount to frustration over court rulings Democrats disagree with.
Roberts Defends The Court’s Independence
Roberts has repeatedly rejected claims that the Supreme Court operates as a political institution.
During recent remarks at a legal conference, the chief justice said many Americans misunderstand the role of the judiciary and wrongly assume the court simply makes political decisions.
Roberts argued the justices are tasked with interpreting the law rather than advancing political agendas.
He has also warned that continued attacks on the judiciary could weaken public trust in the nation’s legal system.
Ethics Controversies Continue To Fuel Debate
The impeachment push also comes amid continued scrutiny over ethics questions involving several Supreme Court justices.
Over the past few years, reports involving luxury vacations, undisclosed gifts, and wealthy donors sparked calls from Democrats for stricter ethics standards and oversight.
In response to growing criticism, the Supreme Court adopted its first formal code of conduct in 2023.
Still, many Democrats argued the changes did not go far enough because the code lacks a strong enforcement mechanism.
Why This Matters Heading Into 2026
The battle over the Supreme Court is quickly becoming one of the biggest political issues ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Many Democrats are now openly discussing major court reforms, including:
- Term limits for justices
- Expanding the size of the court
- Stronger ethics investigations
- New accountability rules
Republicans argue these proposals are an attempt to weaken the court after a series of conservative victories.
Supporters of the court say the Constitution—not political pressure—should guide judicial decisions.
Can A Supreme Court Justice Actually Be Removed?
Although Supreme Court justices can technically be impeached under the Constitution, it is extremely rare.
Only one justice in American history — Samuel Chase — was ever impeached by the House back in 1804. He was later acquitted by the Senate.
Because removal requires a two-thirds Senate vote, Cohen’s resolution is widely viewed as having almost no chance of success.
Still, the impeachment effort shows just how deeply divided America has become over the role of the Supreme Court — and how central the court may become in future political battles.