Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch on Wednesday issued a rare joint statement, followed by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. in a separate statement, to deny news reports that Gorsuch was asked to wear a mask on the bench during in-person arguments this month.

“Reporting that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask surprised us,” the joint statement issued by the U.S. Supreme Court’s public information office said. “It is false. While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends.”