“Events in recent months have illuminated the depth of the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace, and events in the past few weeks have made clear that the judicial branch is not immune,” Roberts wrote in his annual year-end message released by the Supreme Court on Sunday.

Judge Alex Kozinski of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals retired on Dec 18 following news reports that more than a dozen women, including some former law clerks, accused him of groping them, showing them pornography, and making off-colour comments.

Kozinski, the former chief judge of the 9th US Circuit, apologised and said he couldn’t be an effective judge while dealing with an investigation.

Roberts’s message didn’t mention Kozinski by name.

The chief justice said he’s asked the director of the Administrative Office of US Courts to assemble a working group to consider whether changes are needed in the judiciary’s code of conduct, its guidance to employees about reporting misconduct and rules for investigating complaints.

“These concerns warrant serious attention from all quarters of the judicial branch,” he said.

“I have great confidence in the men and women who comprise our judiciary,” Roberts wrote.

“I am sure that the overwhelming number have no tolerance for harassment and share the view that victims must have clear and immediate recourse to effective remedies.”