22: Chief Justice John Roberts on 20 Years Leading the Supreme Court

Twenty years after taking the oath as Chief Justice of the United States, John G. Roberts Jr. visited Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy for a rare public conversation on the role of the courts in a rapidly changing world. In this special episode of “Baker Briefing,” Chief Justice Roberts reflects on two decades leading the Supreme Court, responds to critiques of the judiciary, and discusses how the courts are adapting to emerging technologies and a shifting political landscape. Roberts joins Lee H. Rosenthal of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas for a discussion on judicial independence, public trust, and the evolving responsibilities of the judiciary. This episode presents the full, unedited recording of the conversation, beginning with opening remarks from Amy Dittmar, provost of Rice University. This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience in Rice University’s Stude Concert Hall on Mar. 17, 2026.   Listen and subscribe to “Baker Briefing” on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.