Breyer to attend next State of the Union, even if other justices say 'no thanks'

Justice Stephen Breyer said Sunday that he'll "absolutely" attend the next State of the Union address, even if he's the only member of the Supreme Court there.

On "Fox News Sunday," Breyer was asked about last year's address, in which President Obama struck at the court's ruling in the Citizens United campaign finance case with a handful of justices sitting below and Democrats cheering loudly.

Justice Sam Alito famously shook his head and mouthed the words "not true" during the address, while Chief Justice John Roberts said later that it was a "troubling" scene.

"The image of having the members of one branch of government standing up, literally surrounding the Supreme Court, cheering and hollering, while the court, according to the requirements of protocol, has to sit there expressionless, I think, is very troubling," Roberts said.

But Breyer said the event hadn't soured him on attending the presidential addresses. "[Roberts] says what he thinks. And I say what I think. And what I think is what I said. I'll be there next year," he said.

"I think it's very, very, very important — very important — for us to show up at that State of the Union, because people today, as you know, are more and more visual. I'd like them to read, but they are visual," Breyer said.

"And what they see in front of them in that State of the Union is the federal government, every part — the president, the Congress, the Cabinet, the military, and I would like them to see the judges, too, because federal judges are also part of that government."

The justice continued, "I'm used to people thinking different things. It doesn't bother me and part of me says, 'Good.' "