A recent critic of the secrecy at the U.S. Supreme Court is Lauren Windsor, a journalist, political consultant, and liberal documentarian. She gained attention for leaking a recording involving Justice Samuel Alito.
During an appearance on CNN’s Newsroom, Windsor defended her decision to release the audio recording of Alito, initially published by Rolling Stone.
Windsor pointed out that recording conversations in [Washington] D.C. is legal as long as one participant consents. However, she clarified that recordings are not allowed inside the Supreme Court building itself. She raised the question of accountability, asking how the public can trust a court that shrouds itself in secrecy.
In the leaked audio from a 2006 event, Alito expressed views on bridging the liberal/conservative gap in the U.S. and returning the country to a state of “godliness”. He acknowledged the challenges of finding common ground and criticized the media for eroding public trust in the court.
Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance questioned Alito’s private conversations and its impact on his judicial decisions. Meanwhile, Harvard Law School professor emeritus Laurence Tribe noted that while Alito’s remarks may not disqualify him, they do add to existing concerns about impartiality.
Overall, Windsor’s actions have sparked conversations about transparency and accountability in the highest court of the land.
