WASHINGTON, DC — Leaking the draft Dobbs opinion overruling the infamous Roe v. Wade made Supreme Court justices “targets of assassination,” Justice Samuel Alito told the Wall Street Journal in a rare interview published Friday.
Alito covered a number of topics, including how accusations from the Left denying the court’s legitimacy drive down the court’s support among the American people and ultimately degrade the rule of law.
It can also be dangerous, however. The Dobbs leak literally made the justices “targets of assassination.” In fact, one left-wing activist named Nicholas Roske was charged with attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Pro-abortion activists march on the home of the Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on July 2, 2022. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Pro-abortion activists protest outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on May 9, 2022, in Alexandria, VA. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Pro-abortion activists hold a sign outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on May 9, 2022, in Alexandria, VA. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
One of the most chilling aspects of that from the standpoint of America’s constitutional system is the idea that someone would assassinate a justice to change the direction of the nation by reversing the outcome of a pending major Supreme Court decision.
Alito spoke to precisely that possibility, saying, “It was rational for people to believe that they might be able to stop the decision in Dobbs by killing one of us.” He also explained that the leak was designed to mobilize external pressure on the justices to intimidate one or more justices into changing their votes. The Supreme Court marshal’s investigation did not uncover enough evidence to accuse someone of being the leaker.
“I personally have a pretty good idea who is responsible, but that’s different from the level of proof that is needed to name somebody,” the 73-year-old jurist told the interviewers.
It is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1507 to protest outside a federal judge’s home with the intent of influencing the outcome of a pending case. Such angry protests continue outside the justices’ homes, but the Biden Justice Department has not made arrests or brought charges.
Related: Abortion Activist with Bullhorn Outside Justice Alito’s House
Breitbart News senior legal contributor Ken Klukowski is a lawyer who served in the White House and Justice Department.