Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Justice Kagan Calls Out Right-Wing Justices For Loss Of Trust In Court–And Alito Just Fired Back

Justice Kagan Calls Out Right-Wing Justices For Loss Of Trust In Court–And Alito Just Fired Back
Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Supreme Court Justices typically maintain a collegial public relationship despite their profound philosophical differences. Even liberal icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg maintained a legendarily close personal friendship with arch-conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.

But amid the current SCOTUS' rightward lurch, that friendly relationship seems to be fracturing.


This week liberal Justice Elena Kagan called out her conservative colleagues, blaming their recent spate of radically conservative decisions, like its overturn of Roe v. Wade, as damaging the public's trust in the SCOTUS.

Now conservative Justice Samuel Alito, the architect of the decision on Roe, has publicly fired back in comments to The Wall Street Journal in which he stopped short of mentioning Kagan by name but nonetheless made clear he did not appreciate her condemnation.

The back-and-forth began last week during a speech Kagan gave at Rhode Island's Salve Regina University, in which she implied SCOTUS conservatives abandoned jurisprudence and the Constitution in favor of simply doing the bidding of a radicalized White nationalist, Christian nationalist Republican Party.

As she put it:

“The very worst moments have been times when judges have even essentially reflected one party’s or one ideology’s set of views in their legal decisions."
"The thing that builds up reservoirs of public confidence is the court acting like a court and not acting like an extension of the political process.”

The comments came on the heels of similar statements Kagan made in May, in which she implied the Court has become out-of-touch with the public's ideals, a claim that has been borne out in recent months at least where reproductive rights are concerned.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Alito seemed perturbed by Kagan's observations.

“It goes without saying that everyone is free to express disagreement with our decisions and to criticize our reasoning as they see fit."
"But saying or implying that the court is becoming an illegitimate institution or questioning our integrity crosses an important line."

Alito's take ignores the fact three sitting Justices—all Trump appointees—lied under oath about their dedication to upholding Roe V. Wade as settled law during their confirmation hearings.

As for the public, they seem to be on Kagan's side. A June Gallup poll found just 25% of Americans reported confidence in the institution of the Supreme Court, a double-digit drop since 2021.

On Twitter, the Justices' swipes at each other definitely caught people's eye.

Alito's take did not sit well with most of them.



Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts also criticized Kagan's takes on the Supreme Court's legitimacy. Earlier this month, he implied her objections come down to simple personal beliefs rather than precedent or established Constitutional Law.

He told The Washington Post:

“Simply because people disagree with an opinion is not a basis for questioning the legitimacy of the court."

He added the Court’s responsibilities don't "change simply because people disagree with this opinion or that opinion or disagree with the particular mode of jurisprudence."

More from News

Karoline Leavitt and Scott Bessent
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Karoline Leavitt Dragged After Making Mind-Numbing Claim About Trump's Tariffs Reversal

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is getting called out after she attempted to justify President Donald Trump's sudden reversal on his proposed tariffs, telling reporters that his actions make sense because he has a master plan to make the world bend the knee.

Trump declared a full 90-day suspension of all the “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect at midnight April 10—except for those on China—in a dramatic about-face from a president who had long championed his historically high tariff rates as permanent.

Keep ReadingShow less
religion signs
Noah Holm on Unsplash

People Explain What Stopped Them From Going To Church Anymore

There's been a perception of a bit of an exodus from religion for the last several decades. But humanity has gone from no organized religions to oppressive religious regimes to rebellion and back again over the last several millennia.

But is the 21st century when religion finally fails to bounce back?

Keep ReadingShow less
Jojo Siwa; Mickey Rourke
ITV

Mickey Rourke Reprimanded After Indirectly Aiming Anti-Gay Slur At JoJo Siwa On 'Celebrity Big Brother'

Dance Moms dancer, Nickelodeon child star, singer, and reality TV staple Jojo Siwa had a rough few months in 2024 over some problematic comments and behavior.

But 2025 is looking brighter as the public rallies to her defense.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barack and Michelle Obama
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Michelle Obama Expertly Shuts Down Baseless Rumors That She And Barack Are Divorcing

Speaking on Sophia Bush's Work in Progress podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama addressed rumors that she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, were getting a divorce.

Obama addressed the recent divorce rumors for the first time, while also reflecting on the personal choices she’s made since departing the White House in 2017.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kristi Noem
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Kristi Noem Ripped Over Her Lack Of Gun-Handling Skills While Cosplaying As ICE Agent

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was criticized after she had an ICE officer seemingly dodging her aim after she pointed a gun towards his head while filming a video.

In a 20-second video posted to X on Tuesday, Kristi Noem stands flanked by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, brandishing a gun. Wearing a vest marked "ICE," along with dark cargo pants and a cap, Noem addresses the camera while the two agents remain silent beside her—though some X users expressed concern for the safety of one of them.

Keep ReadingShow less