Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts slammed what he described as “dangerous” talk by some officials about ignoring federal court rulings, using an annual report weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office to stress the importance of an independent judiciary.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warned about a rising number of threats to the judiciary's independence, including calls for violence against judges.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warned that elected officials should not to disregard the rulings made by the court in a report. Roberts, who will mark 20 years at the top of the court later this year, released his year-end report where he warned of increasing attacks to the legitimacy of the court.