Justice Samuel Alito from the Supreme Court recently expressed his frustration with media critiques of the Court in a leaked recording.
The recording, made public on Monday, captured a dialogue between Alito and journalist-political advisor, Lauren Windsor, at a dinner hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society on June 3rd. In the discussion, Windsor, a self-described liberal, questioned Alito on political division and restoring trust in American institutions.
Alito lamented the erosion of trust in the Court, pointing fingers at the media for fueling criticism. He expressed doubt on the possibility of reconciliation amidst fundamental differences between ideologies.
Context
Recent criticism leveled at the U.S. Supreme Court focuses on perceived impartiality issues.
A Gallup poll from September 2023 revealed a decline in public approval of the Court’s performance, with only 41% in favor, compared to 51% in 2018.
What We Know
Windsor shared the recording on social media, sparking discussions on ideological divides mentioned by Alito.
Alito emphasized the challenge of finding common ground amidst irreconcilable differences between political factions.
Alito, appointed by George W. Bush, faced scrutiny after reports surfaced of an upside-down American flag outside his home following the 2020 election, potentially signaling support for Trump. This incident followed the January 6, 2020 Capitol riot by Trump supporters.
In response to the flag uproar, Alito clarified that the flag was briefly displayed as a reaction to an offensive neighbor’s yard sign.
Update 6/10/2024, 1:12 PM: Additional information has been added to the article.