Chief justice delivers traditional toast to president at Historical Society dinner

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. arrives for the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

By Ann E. Marimow

Inside the Supreme Court’s main corridor known as the Great Hall, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. rose from his chair Monday night to formally open an annual dinner with a traditional toast to the president. Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post You can cancel anytime. Subscribe

For decades, the sitting chief justice has delivered the same seven-word toast at the start of Supreme Court Historical Society dinners he attends, no matter who is in the White House.