Faithful America, a Christian group championing social justice, has started a petition urging Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to step down.
They’re concerned that his recent actions and comments compromise his impartiality, arguing that these missteps clash with the high ethical standards expected from someone in his position.
Alito’s Controversial Remarks Captured
A secret recording has surfaced, catching Justice Alito voicing that the U.S. should return “to a place of godliness.”
Captured by filmmaker Lauren Windsor at a dinner event, these remarks have sparked a heated debate about whether his personal views might unduly influence his judicial duties.
Surge in Support for the Petition
The drive for signatures on Faithful America’s petition passed its 15,000 mark rapidly, a testament to growing public discontent.
This swell of support illustrates the community’s serious concerns over Justice Alito’s recent controversies, pushing for his consideration to resign.
Flags Stir Public Outcry
The public was taken aback when Justice Alito was reported to have flown an upside-down American flag and a Christian nationalist flag.
The former is linked to the “Stop the Steal” movement, and both symbols, as reported by The New York Times, have heightened the scrutiny on his impartiality.
Partisanship Revealed in Secret Audio
A Rolling Stone release of a candid audio recording of Justice Alito has intensified the scrutiny around him.
In it, he seems to take a partisan stance on America’s ideological rift, raising concerns about how this might influence his judicial decisions.
Alito’s Own Words Fuel the Fire
Faithful America’s petition stems from a troubling quote from Alito.
He said, “One side or the other is going to win. I mean, there can be a way of working, a way of living together peacefully, but it’s difficult…Because there are differences on fundamental things that really can’t be compromised. So it’s not like you are going to split the difference.”
Backlash Over Alito’s ‘Godliness’ Comments
Alito’s remarks about bringing the country back to “godliness” have caused quite a stir.
These comments hint at a desire for religious influence in governance, alarming both the public and numerous advocacy groups who champion the separation of church and state.
Challenging Alito’s Suitability for the Bench
The petition from Faithful America pulls no punches, stating directly: “You are unfit to serve on our nation’s highest court, and we demand that you immediately resign.”
This strong call reflects deep concerns about his ability to remain neutral as a Supreme Court Justice.
The Significance of a Lifetime Appointment
Holding a position that can last a lifetime means Justice Alito’s influence on the Supreme Court could stretch for decades unless he chooses to step down or is otherwise removed.
This demonstrates why maintaining integrity and impartiality in his role is crucial.
Demands for Recusal Amid Presidential Controversies
Amid these unfolding events, there are growing calls for Alito to recuse himself from any cases related to former President Donald Trump, particularly those concerning presidential immunity.
Critics fear his apparent biases could taint his legal judgment in these politically charged cases.
Alito Denies Involvement with Controversial Flags
In response to the uproar about the flags, Justice Alito has stated, “I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” attributing the actions to his wife, Martha-Ann Alito.
He aims to clear the air and separate himself from the political connotations linked to these symbols.
The Road Ahead for Justice Alito
As the petition by Faithful America nears its goal, and public scrutiny mounts, the pressure on Justice Alito grows.
His ability to continue serving on the Supreme Court may hinge on how these controversies are viewed by both the public and his judicial colleagues, affecting his standing as an impartial legal figure.
Alito Not Resigning
Alito asserts that the calls for his resignation do not have merit, affirming that he does not let ideology influence his court rulings.
“I am confident that a reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases would conclude that the events … do not meet the applicable standard for recusal,” he wrote. “I am therefore required to reject your request,” said Alito.
Rules on Justices
Although there have been calls for Alito to resign in the past, there is not much precedent in US history for forcing a justice to resign. Supreme Court justices decide for themselves whether to recuse or sit out of a case.
Congress has the power to impeach a Supreme Court Justice, which would be an effective way to remove them from their post. However, this has not been done once in United States history. In 1805, Associate Justice Samuel Chase went through the impeachment process but was ultimately acquitted in the Senate.
Support for Alito
While some are calling for Alito’s resignation, some online have also expressed support for the Supreme Court Justice.
“Why remove Alito? He used his free speech rights & some progressives disliked his messaging? Had Ketanji Brown Jackson displayed a US flag upside down (a signal of distress), would the same people be calling for her removal?” said X user Mark Miller.
Political Motivations
It’s hard to escape the political implications of the calls to remove Supreme Court Justices. Supporters of Alito feel like it’s only fair to start petitions to remove other justices as well.
“So I guess we have to start remove Justice Jackson petitions, too. I wonder how many people would have signed that if they knew what the neighbor had done to result in the flag being turned upside down to show the distress that the neighbor caused,” said one X User.
Concerned Christians
Petitioners against Alito are concerned by his comments because they see them as representative of an erosion of the separation between church and state that could have negative consequences for Christians and the country.
“Every Christian should be concerned about Alitos push to blur the lines between Church and State simply because the pendulum could swing wildly back to secularism to the point where they could actually be a persecuted people,” said a Reddit user.
Small Number
Some commenters were not impressed by the thousands of signatures the petition has been getting in the context of the number of people actually living in the United States, which totals in the hundreds of millions.
“Well yeah, 15,000 people is hardly a meaningful amount in a country of 340 million people,” said one Reddit user. “Petitions are largely ineffective but widespread public pressure does help effect change,” said another user in response.
Enlightenment Ideals
Some criticism of Alito focused not on his actions but on the state of mind his comments allude to that make people think he’s ignorant of America’s founding principles.
“I do not care about the flag thing. If he or his wife wants to fly a flag, it’s unprofessional, but, nothing really prevents it,” said a Reddit user. “The nation was founded by enlightenment ideals…The core problem is that Alito seems to be willfully ignorant of these principles. And as such, shows an inability to judge impartially.”
Previous Petition
This latest petition from Faithful America is not the first time a petition calling for Alito to be removed from the bench has gained traction.
Last year a petition to impeach Alito received 32,000 signatures in a span of a few weeks. The petition ended up not having any discernable effect on Alito. The previous petition took issue with Alito receiving gifts in his role as a Supreme Court Justice.
Upcoming Court Cases
Critics of Alito are keen to try to get him removed ahead of the Supreme Court’s docket, which has many important cases still to rule on.
The Supreme Court still has to rule on the question of Trump’s immunity related to election interference. Previous reporting suggests the justices are leaning towards ruling in Trump’s favor.
Trump Immunity Case
The Donald Trump case for immunity before the Supreme Court will decide whether or not the former president can claim immunity from charges related to federal election subversion. Trump is demanding total immunity, however, an appeals court ruled earlier this year that he’s not entitled to any protection.
“Trump has already won something,” said Jonathan Entin, a professor at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law. “As a practical matter, Trump has gained time here, regardless of how the court decides the case.”
Thanking Alito
Former President Donald Trump thanked Justice Alito for refusing calls to resign or recuse himself, a move that will likely help him in the upcoming Supreme Court decisions.
“Congratulations to United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for showing the INTELLIGENCE, COURAGE, and ‘GUTS’ to refuse stepping aside from making a decision on anything January 6th related,” said Trump in a Truth Social post.
Justices With Grit
Trump, who is facing multiple criminal and legal cases in court, demanded that US judges should be like Alito and show true grit.
“All U.S. Judges, Justices, and Leaders should have such GRIT – Our Country would be far more advanced than its current status as A BADLY FAILING NATION, headed by the Worst President in American History, Crooked Joe Biden!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
