Alito Says Outrage Over Supreme Court's Use Of 'Shadow Docket’ Is 'Not Serious Criticism'

Justice Samuel Alito publicly lashed out at those claiming the conservative-leaning court is using emergency appeals cases to change the legal landscape.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito exposed more of his political partisanship on Thursday, using a public appearance to lash out at people who have criticized conservative justices and the high court’s increased use of the so-called “shadow docket.”

Alito, who as Supreme Court justice should appear nonpartisan, gave a public address on the court’s emergency docket at the University of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies. During the speech, he launched into a 10-point rebuttal, directed at times at the media and political actors who have criticized the court’s inconsistent use of emergency applications.

“The media and political talk about the ‘shadow docket’ is not serious criticism. It is related to a deep problem that some of my colleagues have addressed recently,” Alito said.