Samuel Alito Warns of Intimidation Efforts Against Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito warned during a Fox News interview that an extreme level of public rhetoric and a concerted effort to intimidate the court and its justices are being used to influence case decisions. Alito stated he is concerned about the future of the institution amid these pressures.

The warnings follow a period of record-low public approval for the Supreme Court of the United States. A Gallup survey indicates only 34 percent of U.S. adults approve of the court's performance, the lowest level since 1972. This decline in trust stems from controversial rulings on presidential immunity and abortion, as well as ethics scrutiny regarding luxury gifts accepted by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Addressing the May 2022 leak of the abortion ruling, Alito noted that while he holds an opinion on who was responsible, the evidence available is not strong enough to name a specific person.