Justice Samuel Alito on his future and the court's political climate

The decision to stay

Justice Samuel Alito, 76, recently sat down with CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford to talk shop ahead of his new book release, So Ordered. Marking 20 years on the bench, Alito is the undisputed leader of the court’s conservative wing, most famous for authoring the 2022 Dobbs opinion that ended the federal right to abortion.

There’s been plenty of noise regarding whether he should step down to let President Trump appoint a younger conservative successor while the GOP holds the Senate. Alito admitted he lowkey considered it, noting that anyone at his age thinks about it every term. Ultimately, he decided he still has work to do. "I thought that I could still make a valuable contribution, which is why I became a justice and a judge in the first place," Alito said. He also pushed back against the idea that justices should play 4D chess with presidential politics, calling it too hard to predict the political landscape or what a future president might do.

The political temperature check

It’s giving high tension. Alito pointed out that the vibe between the executive branch and the Supreme Court has fundamentally shifted. Back in the day, presidents might disagree with a ruling, but they’d respect the outcome. Now? Not so much.

He noted that harsh rhetoric is coming from both sides of the aisle. President Trump has been openly critical of his own appointees—Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett—calling them "fools and lapdogs" when they rule against his policies like tariffs or postal rules. Meanwhile, Alito noted the Biden administration’s critiques have been equally "very harsh."

Despite the drama, Alito maintains that the court isn't playing for any political team. "We are not part of any political movement, and we are not attempting to further any political agenda," he said. He maintains their only goal is interpreting the Constitution.

Why it matters

With the Supreme Court taking on massive cases regarding immigration, voting rights, and gun control, the relationship between the justices and the political establishment is strained. Alito’s insistence on staying put while the court faces scrutiny from both Democrats and President Trump sets the stage for a highly charged term.