The Supreme Court spoke for the first time Tuesday following the leak of a draft opinion that seemingly signals the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with Chief Justice John Roberts saying an investigation has been ordered into how it was published.

In a statement, the court confirmed the draft that was leaked is "authentic" but stressed it does "not represent a decision by the Court."

"Yesterday, a news organization published a copy of a draft opinion in a pending case. Justices circulate draft opinions internally as a routine and essential part of the Court's confidential deliberative work," the court wrote in a statement published by the Supreme Court's press office.

LEAKED DRAFT OPINION SIGNALS SUPREME COURT OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE

"Although the document described in yesterday's reports is authentic, it does not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case," it wrote.

Roberts, in a separate statement, decried the "betrayal" of a leak designed to "undermine the integrity" of the court and added that he had instructed the marshal of the court to launch an investigation into the leak.

Despite Roberts's grave concerns over the leaked draft opinion, he said the high court work "will not be affected in any way," noting it was a "singular and egregious breach" intended to sow distrust among the "community of public servants who work here."

"We at the Court are blessed to have a workforce — permanent employees and law clerks alike — intensely loyal to the institution and dedicated to the rule of law," Roberts said.

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The chief justice commended the high court's employees for having "an exemplary and important tradition of respecting the confidentiality of the judicial process and upholding the trust of the Court."

The Washington Examiner has contacted the Supreme Court's Public Information Office regarding the investigation.