Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said criticism of the high court from political leaders can be "quite damaging" to the institution, warning that sustained attacks risk undermining public confidence in the judiciary.
Alito made the remarks during a public appearance, arguing that when elected officials single out the court for attack, it erodes the perception of the judiciary as an independent branch of government rather than a political one. He did not name specific officials in his comments.
The justice's warning comes as the Supreme Court faces heightened scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle over a series of high-profile rulings and questions about ethics standards for the justices. Approval ratings for the court have hovered near historic lows in recent polling, with surveys showing public confidence in the institution well below its levels of a decade ago.
Alito, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006, has served on the court for nearly two decades and has been a frequent target of criticism from Democratic lawmakers, particularly following the 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. He authored that majority opinion, which ended the federal constitutional right to abortion and returned the issue to individual states.
The court's 6-3 conservative majority has delivered a string of consequential rulings in recent terms on issues including abortion, gun rights, and federal regulatory authority. Those decisions have prompted proposals from some Democrats in Congress to expand the court or impose term limits on justices — measures that would require constitutional amendments or new legislation.
Alito has previously pushed back against efforts to impose an enforceable ethics code on the justices, arguing that Congress lacks the authority to regulate the court. In 2023, the court adopted its first formal code of conduct, though it lacks an enforcement mechanism, drawing criticism from lawmakers who said it did not go far enough.
Chief Justice John Roberts has also spoken publicly about the importance of judicial independence, though he has generally avoided direct engagement with political criticism of the court. The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg similarly warned against politicizing the judiciary during her tenure.
Public trust in the Supreme Court has declined sharply in recent years. A Pew Research Center survey found that roughly half of Americans held an unfavorable view of the court, a marked shift from the more favorable ratings the institution typically received in prior decades.
Alito's comments reflect a broader tension between the court and the political branches, as justices increasingly find themselves drawn into public debates over their legitimacy. The court is expected to issue rulings in several major cases in the coming months, including disputes over federal agency power and election-related matters.
