Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett addressed the heightened public criticism of her institution during a recent judicial conference in Wisconsin.
She said, "Public scrutiny is welcome. Increasing and enhancing civics education is welcome."
Of course, that depends upon the particular type of scrutiny received, as Barrett explained, "To the extent that it engages people in the work of the court and paying attention to the court and knowing what the courts do and what the Constitution has to say, that’s a positive development."
The jurist also observed that, whether they like it or not, virtually all judges and justices are now "public figures" and that "public criticism kind of comes with the job" -- a realization she's had for a couple of years now that prompted her to acquire "a thick skin."
Along with being a public figure comes the increased likelihood of being recognized while out and about in public, a development in the era of the internet that Barrett lamented in comparison to the old days when judges and justices were essentially unfamiliar to the vast majority of the general public.
"People just didn’t recognize who the justices were," she said. "I think that’s better. I don’t think justices should be recognizable in that sense."
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