Amy Coney Barrett Declines to Respond to Trump's Attacks on Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has declined to respond to public attacks made by President Donald Trump against the high court, stating "I don’t want to talk about anything that the president has said in particular." Her remarks came just days after Trump criticized Barrett and two other conservative justices for blocking his efforts to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump expressed his displeasure on social media, calling the court "bullied and cajoled by the Radical Left" and suggesting some justices were "petrified of these crazed and depraved Democrats." He also criticized justices for ruling against him on other matters, including a February decision that invalidated his use of an emergency law to enact sweeping tariffs on most US trading partners.

Barrett made her comments on Thursday evening while speaking at an event at the University of Virginia to discuss her book, "Listening to the Law." She emphasized the importance of judicial independence, stating, "I really think that the court can’t do its business with an eye towards the public opinion polls." She added that the job of the court is to apply the law, and when a majority's actions are deemed unconstitutional, it will inevitably lead to unpopular decisions. Barrett attributed the polarization surrounding the court's rulings to the broader political division in the country.

Justice Barrett also touched upon the pressures faced by Supreme Court justices, noting the high threat level and the importance of maintaining judicial independence. She mentioned that federal judges across the country, including those on the Supreme Court, continue their work "without fear or favor." Earlier this year, Barrett was the victim of a swatting attempt. In July, she and Justice Elena Kagan testified before Congress regarding a proposed budget increase for the Supreme Court, intended to enhance security for the building and its justices, as threats were projected to rise.

Barrett and Justice Neil Gorsuch were among the six justices who sided against Trump's efforts to curb mail-in voting. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were the only two who supported the Trump administration's position in that case. The court's decision blocked Trump's restrictions on mail-in ballots from taking effect.