1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

Recent reporting has raised serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and lack of impartiality regarding Justices Alito and Thomas presiding over cases related to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The symbolic display of an upside-down American flag, associated with the "Stop the Steal" movement, at Justice Alito's residence in the days before the inauguration, points to a concerning alignment with the rioters whose actions are now before the Court. Similarly, Justice Thomas's wife's well-documented involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results creates an undeniable conflict. The integrity and legitimacy of the Supreme Court hinges on the ethical conduct and impartiality of its members. When judges are entangled, even tangentially, with the very events and actors at the heart of cases before them, it irreparably undermines public trust in the institution's ability to render fair and unbiased rulings. Upholding the rule of law and safeguarding judicial independence demands that Justices Alito and Thomas recuse themselves from any proceedings related to January 6th to preserve the Court's credibility and the notion of equal justice under law. Their failure to do so would represent a dereliction of ethical duties that risks inflicting lasting damage on our democratic system of checks and balances.