Justice Scalia: The State Of The Union Address Is A 'Juvenile Spectacle'

WASHINGTON -- In remarks to the conservative Federalist Society on Thursday night, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia decried the "juvenile spectacle" that is now the State of the Union address, saying he believes it is inappropriate for justices to attend the annual tradition.

Comparing the gatherings to "cheerleading sessions," Scalia said, "I don't know at what point that happened, but it did happen, and now you go and sit there like bumps on a log while applause lines cause one half the Congress to leap up while [another] causes the other half to leap up. ... It is a juvenile spectacle. And I resent being called upon to the indignity."

Sitting in the audience at the dinner at the Omni Shoreham Hotel was Scalia's colleague, Justice Samuel Alito, who famously mouthed the words "not true" when the president criticized the court's Citizens United decision in his 2010 State of the Union address.

After a flurry of controversy, Alito said he will no longer be attending these gatherings because justices are expected to sit there awkwardly "like the proverbial potted plant." He also said that some of his colleagues "who are more disciplined refrain from manifesting any emotion or opinion whatsoever." Neither Scalia nor Thomas have attended State of the Union addresses in recent years, and John Paul Stevens used to also refrain.

On Thursday, Scalia declined to explicitly advise his younger colleagues about going to the State of the Union address, acknowledging it's a lot easier to stay away "when the president giving the State of the Union is not the man who appointed you."

The discussion at the dinner -- an interview between Scalia and CBS News Chief Legal Correspondent Jan Crawford -- stayed away from many hot-button political issues that might appear before the court, although Scalia repeatedly made clear that he is firmly against having cameras in the courtroom.

Referencing one of the chief proponents of such a move, Scalia joked at the beginning of the interview that "[Arlen] Specter has left the Senate," which received loud applause and cheers. Scalia clarified that it wasn't meant to be a partisan retort, which elicited more laughter.

The justices have come under fire for being less than technologically savvy, but on Thursday, Scalia made clear that he doesn't toil away with a quill and parchment, saying he does all his work on the computer, owns an iPod (on which he loads classical music) and frequently uses an iPad.

"I have an iPad on which the staff stores all of the briefs, so I don't have the schlep the briefs home with me," he said. "It's a great new world. It really is."

Comments

[Hvartski]

05:45 PM on 01/11/2011

If anyone knows about juvenile spectacles, it's this man.

[Dana Nicole]

04:47 PM on 01/11/2011

Supreme Court justices shouldn't be there, or at the conservative Federalist Society dinner. They should be interpreting the law based on precedence, not how much they like or dislike the sitting President.

[Koreboomer]

08:55 PM on 01/05/2011

I find myself actually agreeing with some of Scalia's observations about the State of the Union. It HAS turned into little more than a partisan pep rally, and it IS a bit of a "juvenile spectacle."

However, the justices' presence should be a sign of respect for the other two branches of the US government. I guess an hour of being a "potted plant" isn't too much to ask of them.

[allengoldchain]

05:06 PM on 01/03/2011

I can't blame Scalia for his decision of not attending. Obama made the SOTU into a big pep rally last year. Why bother. SOTU of the past had far more civility then in recent years. Just a shame but I can't blame the man for no attending.. He can watch it like the rest of us...unless of course if Jersey Shore is on that night. haha ah

[delta7777]

04:13 AM on 12/28/2010

.
Particularly in light of Bush v. Gore and Citizens United, it is becoming blatantly
obvious that this Supreme Court, particularly under the influence of Scalia,
Thomas, and Alito, is acting in a concerted movement to thumb their noses at
and usurp the function of The Executive Branch of government,
rather than staying within their Constitutionally defined and
distinctly separate scope of responsibility and balance of power
as the Judicial Branch of our government.
.

[hchavez]

11:24 PM on 12/27/2010

Justice Scalia is not funny. He should leave comedy to comedians.

[earlyblue]

07:32 AM on 12/20/2010

Yes, fatso, and you are the only juvenile, and biggest right-wing ideologue present.

[GranE]

12:20 PM on 12/12/2010

Stay home Scalia. We do not need to be reminded of your horrible decisions on the court, we really dont.

[SonyaInTx]

06:14 AM on 12/05/2010

Looks like heart disease to me.......

[Metatron Rickman]

05:33 PM on 11/28/2010

This mofo knows a lot about, 'juvenile spectacles', he is, after all, friends wife Clarence Thomas and his lovely bride!

[Raptor2u]

02:53 PM on 11/27/2010

Scalia has no problem conducting public appearances at politically biased organizations. Scalia has and continues to do speeches before politically biased groups. Scalia will not recuse himself from cases where there may be the potential appearance of a conflict of interest (ie Cheney). But to attend the ONCE A YEAR State of the Union address and he goes intobitchdiva mode. What a hypocrite.

[allengoldchain]

05:07 PM on 01/03/2011

Same thing done by the other justices.. what's your point? They all do speeches and events...

[moonlightesq]

05:33 PM on 11/22/2010

All justices should refrain (although not required) from the State of Union addresses, period.

[allengoldchain]

05:08 PM on 01/03/2011

Yes that I can agree with you...They really don't need to be there..

[lithium451]

02:07 AM on 11/22/2010

I think Antonin would prefer to spend his time on the golf course and being treated to expensive meals rather than going through the onerous imposition of reporting for work.

Unless of course his corporate or Republican cronies request it.

[Szewczyk]

09:39 PM on 11/21/2010

Nobody is twisting Scalia's arm to force him to attand the State of the Union Address. I don't know where he belongs, but Scalia's complete and total lack of judicial demeanor plainly indicates that he does not belong on the Supreme Court. As time passes and we hear more and more of his juvenile, right-wing, partisan remarks, the basis of Bush v. Gore comes even more clearly into focus.

[hotbarb2614]

03:39 PM on 11/21/2010

He just mad because he will miss his All you can eat snack at eight o'clock./