Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Sunday defended his decision to invite Chief Justice John Roberts to testify on Supreme Court ethics rules following reports about Justice Clarence Thomas’ undisclosed acceptance of luxury gifts and real estate transactions.

Asked about why he didn’t call on Thomas to appear before the committee, Durbin told NBC’s “Meet The Press”: “I think I know what would happen to that invitation. It would be ignored.”

He added that Roberts is an “articulate, well-schooled man,” who probably would “do well” responding to senators’ questions.

In a letter Thursday, Durbin requested Roberts or another Supreme Court justice designated by him to testify at a public hearing next month regarding ethics reform for the court. He wrote there is precedent for sitting justices to appear before Congress, including most recently in October 2011.

“History is going to judge the Roberts’ court by his decision as to reform, and I think this is an invitation on May 2 for him to present it to the American people,” Durbin told NBC’s Chuck Todd.