In recent months, the mainstream media, in coordination with progressive factions, has launched an intense campaign aimed at delegitimizing the US Supreme Court’s conservative justices. This effort is characterized by a steady stream of negative stories and allegations, seemingly more focused on shifting the ideological balance of the judiciary than on genuine accountability.
The Supreme Court currently holds a conservative majority, with six justices appointed by Republican presidents and three by Democrats. This imbalance has led to a series of rulings that have significantly influenced areas such as abortion, voting laws, environmental regulations, halting Biden student loan debt forgiveness and more. The conservative tilt of the court has become a rallying point for Democrats, who see the 2024 election as a crucial opportunity to shift the balance of power.
Justice Thomas was the first target of this campaign, now the left pivoted to Justice Alito. The merits, or lack of merits of the allegations against the two conservatives’ justices is not up for discussion here, and the media and progressive activists do not care about the merits either. By creating a narrative that the Supreme Court is corrupt, these groups aim to build public support and `create a sense of urgency for significant court reforms, most notably of them is court-packing.
Court packing refers to the act of changing the number of justices on a court, typically to influence the court’s decisions. The goal involves increasing the number of justices on the Supreme Court to shift its ideological balance. This term gained significant attention during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration in the 1930s when he proposed adding more justices to the Supreme Court after it struck down several of his New Deal measures.
Prominent Democratic leaders have been vocal in their support for these narratives. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has repeatedly criticized the Supreme Court, claiming, “This Supreme Court has been captured by special interests, and it’s time we took a hard look at how it operates.” Such statements reinforce the media’s portrayal of the Court as compromised and untrustworthy. Similarly, Senator Ed Markey has been a strong advocate for court-packing, arguing that it is necessary to restore balance to the judiciary. “Republicans have hijacked the confirmation process and stolen the Supreme Court majority—all to appeal to far-right judicial activists who for years have wanted to wield the gavel to roll back fundamental rights,” said Senator Markey. “Each scandal uncovered, each norm broken, each precedent-shattering ruling delivered is a reminder that we must restore justice and balance to the rogue, radical Supreme Court. It is time we expand the Court.” Markey has stated.
By repeatedly framing the Supreme Court as ethically compromised and politically biased, the media and progressive leaders aim to create a groundswell of support for expanding the Court. This would allow for the appointment of additional justices who align with progressive values, thereby shifting the ideological balance.
The media’s role in shaping public opinion is the usual. Through selective reporting and persistent framing, the media goal to influence how the public perceives the legitimacy of the Supreme Court is a top priority. They often look to indicators in polling that it works. The current campaign against the conservative justices is a clear example of this power. Voters should not be fooled by the messaging of this campaign to attack the Supreme Court- it is meant to serve a partisan purpose to tilt the court to the left.
