(NewsNation Now) — Chief Justice John Roberts shut down reports Wednesday claiming he directed Justice Neil Gorsuch to wear a mask while on the high court bench.

NPR first reported that Justice Neil Gorsuch refused to wear a mask on the bench. As a result, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a diabetic, opted to work remotely from her chambers because she doesn’t feel comfortable sitting on the bench near colleagues who are not masked.

The report has since been called false by the Supreme Court. In a joint statement Wednesday, Sotomayor said she did not ask Gorsuch to wear a mask.

“While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends,” they said.

Chief Justice Roberts also responded to reports saying, he “did not request Justice Gorsuch or any other Justice to wear a mask on the bench,” according to the Supreme Court press office. 

The Chief Justice indicated he will have no further comment.