Supreme Court Legitimacy: Justices Should Stop Trashing Their Colleagues

Supreme Court justices often warn that the Court’s authority depends on public acceptance of its decisions. They are right, but they should apply those warnings to themselves as well.

During an appearance in Tulsa on September 16, Justice Sonia Sotomayor observed that many Americans do not understand the First Amendment. But then she added: “Some of my colleagues don’t either, by the way. And I’m not joking about that.”

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Ryan J. Owens

Ryan J. Owens is the Director of the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University and a professor of political science.

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Ketanji Brown Jackson

Supreme Court justices often warn that the Court’s authority depends on public acceptance of its decisions. They are right, but they should apply those warnings to themselves as well.

During an appearance in Tulsa on September 16, Justice Sonia Sotomayor observed that many Americans do not understand the First Amendment. But then she added: “Some of my colleagues don’t either, by the way. And I’m not joking about that.”