On Sunday, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) expressed deep concerns about what she views as a growing authoritarian trend in the Supreme Court, following the release of several contentious rulings in the final week of the term.
She expressed fears that, if the Supreme Court continues on this trajectory unchecked and unbalanced, we may begin to witness a hazardous, undemocratic shift towards authoritarianism within the judicial system, Ocasio-Cortez remarked during her appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Ocasio-Cortez argued that this shift is already evident in the court’s recent rulings, including decisions that reversed abortion rights and made discriminatory judgments which undermine the dignity and full rights of the LGBTQ community in the U.S. She sees these decisions as worrying indicators of a move towards authoritarianism and a concentration of power in the judiciary.
Last week, the Supreme Court handed down several pivotal judgments which have sparked substantial debate. These included decisions impacting affirmative action programs in university admissions, President Biden’s initiative for student loan relief, and LGBTQ rights — verdicts which have been largely celebrated by Republicans but criticized by Democrats.
Ocasio-Cortez, who has often voiced her criticism of the conservative-leaning court, contended on Sunday that the justices are overstepping their boundaries and starting to behave as if they were legislators. She highlighted recent issues surrounding judicial ethics, arguing for a need to limit the power of the justices.
She asserted that this broadening of authority is a critical issue that requires our attention, particularly due to the potential misuse of power within the court. This concern is especially relevant in relation to the court’s entanglements with conflicts of interest, added Ocasio-Cortez.
