Alito Warns Congress Could 'Turn Off the Lights' at Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said Congress holds the power to "turn off the lights" at the high court by withholding its funding, remarks delivered Thursday night at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention in Washington, D.C., according to NBC News.

What Did Alito Say About Congress's Funding Power?

Speaking with conservative author Mollie Hemingway at the black-tie dinner, Alito described the judiciary as the "least dangerous" branch of government and said it is "vulnerable to the executive and to Congress because they are more powerful," NBC News reported. "Congress can turn off the lights of the Supreme Court and stop everything from happening if they will not fund their activities," Alito said, according to the outlet. "And there are many, many, many other things that they can do, or at least try to do. So it is important to preserve the independence of the judiciary."

Why Did Alito Call the Supreme Court a 'Hand Grenade'?

Alito said the court's own power should not be dismissed despite its vulnerability to the other two branches. He described the judiciary not as a "nuclear weapon" or a "500-pound bomb" but as a "hand grenade," NBC News reported, adding, "The hand grenade is the least dangerous, but that is not to say that is not dangerous."

What Did Alito Say About Federal Judges Going 'Far Astray'?

While emphasizing the need for judicial independence from Congress and the executive branch, Alito also criticized some of his colleagues on the federal bench, telling the audience that some judges have gone "far astray" in issuing what he called "unjustified orders," according to NBC News. The remark drew a contrast between Alito's defense of the judiciary as an institution and his pointed critique of individual rulings he views as overreach.

By the Numbers: The Federalist Society Dinner

• More than 2,500: attendees at the dinner, described by NBC News as conservative elected officials, lawyers, judges and advocates.
• 3: branches of government Alito said are locked in an imbalance of power, with the judiciary cast as the weakest.
• "Hand grenade" vs. "500-pound bomb": the two comparisons Alito used to rank the Supreme Court's danger relative to other federal power, per NBC News.

What Is the Political Backdrop Behind Alito's Remarks?

Alito did not directly mention the midterm elections, but his comments came days after Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate by larger margins than expected, NBC News reported. The timing places his warning about congressional funding power against a backdrop in which Democrats will soon control the chamber that sets the judiciary's budget. Alito's dual message — defending judicial independence while criticizing judges he says overstepped — reflects a tension the justice framed as inherent to a court caught between two more powerful branches.

For the full account of Alito's remarks, including additional context from the Federalist Society convention, see NBC News's report.

mindfulAI Keyboard — An iPhone keyboard that rewrites a draft in a tone you pick. Four free AI actions a day.