From the Tariff Ruling to the Capitol Floor: How the Scotus State of the Union Drama Unfolded
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Justice Samuel Alito has stayed away from the State of the Union address for more than a decade. His self-imposed boycott dates back to 2010, when President Barack Obama openly criticized the Citizens United ruling from the rostrum, prompting Alito to mouth the words "not true" on live television. Justice Clarence Thomas similarly treats the event as an unnecessary display of Washington partisan theatrics, routinely scheduling lectures, circuit travel, or quiet working dinners instead.
This time, they were not alone. Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Sonia Sotomayor also chose not to attend. Gorsuch and Barrett cited existing university lecture commitments and travel schedules, while Sotomayor chose to participate in an appellate conference outside Washington. The confluence of five simultaneous absences left the front row unusually sparse.
Chief Justice John Roberts attended alongside Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Roberts views attendance as an indispensable civic obligation of his office. His presence signaled that the third branch still honors its constitutional relationship with the presidency and Congress, regardless of recent rulings or political heat.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
