Supreme Court Justice's Call With President Sparks Controversy Over Judicial Neutrality

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): On Tuesday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had a phone conversation with newly elected President Donald Trump which he publicly disclosed. The conversation has sparked widespread backlash among supporters of judicial impartiality, who have called it a violation of protocol.

On Wednesday, Justice Alito explained that during the phone call, he had recommended his former law clerk, William Levy for a position in the incoming Trump administration. This conversation took place a day after Trump filed an appeal in the New York court concerning the delay in sentencing a case involving an illegal payment to a porn star. Alito clarified that the discussion did not involve Trump’s legal cases or any other legal issues. He emphasized that they had no knowledge of Trump’s appeal and that no legal matters were discussed during the call.

While recommending former clerks for positions is a common practice among U.S. judges, directly calling the president is unusual, raising questions about the propriety of the conversation. Gabe Roth, the executive director of the judicial reform group Fix the Court, stated that it was a clear violation of protocol for a judge to contact the newly elected president. He added that no one outside the court should be contacting a judge overseeing their case. Spokespeople for Donald Trump have not yet commented on the matter. Conservative group leader and Trump supporter Carrie Severino wrote on social media that the discussion was solely about the recommendation and nothing more. This incident has reignited discussions about the independence of the judiciary and the importance of remaining free from political influence.