Chief Justice John Roberts, whose opinion upholding President Obama's health care law is the talk of Washington, was spotted by an Associated Press photographer in Malta, where he is teaching a class over the next two weeks.
Roberts could no doubt use the getaway.
As we've reported in recent days, some conservatives who once hailed his stewardship of the high court have turned on Roberts for providing the decisive vote to preserve the health care law.
There are also reports that Roberts switched his vote and resisted attempts by other conservative justice to pull him back.
The flap puts a whole new spin on a comment Roberts made at a conference before the announcement of the health care ruling -- he cited his post-term travel plans.
"Malta, for those of you who don't know, is an impregnable island fortress," Roberts said. "And it seemed like a good idea."
