US Supreme Court Justice Alito mocks foreign critics in first public remarks since abortion ruling
- Conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito addressed foreign leaders’ criticism of decision to overturn Roe vs Wade
- Alito called out Prince Harry and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson by name at religious-liberty summit in Rome
Conservative US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has brushed off criticism from prominent figures around the world of last month’s blockbuster ruling he authored that overturned Roe vs Wade, the landmark 1973 abortion rights decision.
In his first public remarks since the decision, which has led to various conservative US states imposing abortion bans, Alito dismissed criticism of the ruling, which has come from the likes of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In addition, Alito took aim at Britain’s Prince Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, who referenced the abortion ruling in a speech at the United Nation’s last week.
Alito’s previously unannounced speech was delivered on July 21 at a conference on religious liberty in Rome hosted by the University of Notre Dame Law School. Video of the speech was posted online on Thursday by Notre Dame.
“I had the honour this term of writing I think the only Supreme Court decision in the history of that institution that has been lambasted by a whole string of foreign leaders who felt perfectly fine commenting on American law,” Alito said.
“One of these was former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but he paid the price,” Alito joked, referring to Johnson’s plans to step down following criticism of his leadership from within Britain’s ruling Conservative Party.
