U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh likened his job to that of a baseball umpire at a conference on Thursday. In efforts to address ongoing ethics controversies surrounding the high court, Justice Kavanaugh asserted that the Supreme Court is fundamentally “an institution of law, not of politics.”
Justice Kavanaugh emphasized that the judicial role is akin to an umpire’s in a baseball game. A game umpire’s role is detached and impartial, making decisions based on the rules of the game, distanced from the energy of the team rivalry and loyal fan adherence. Similarly, a justice, according to Kavanaugh’s metaphor, is to make decisive interpretations of the law, detached from the throes of political agendas and public opinion.
These comments from Justice Kavanaugh come amid ongoing debates and discussions on the ethical protocols and political impartiality of the judiciary. More on his views can be read in the original Law360 article.