‘Freedom is at risk’: Ex-Supreme Court justice fed up with the state of America

Former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy appeared to be triggered by the state of American politics during a recent online forum.

Kennedy appeared on a panel about the threats to the rule of law, where he cited threats to the judicial branch and extreme rhetoric. He said both issues have degraded democracy both in the U.S. and abroad.

“Many in the rest of the world look to the United States to see what democracy is, to see what democracy ought to be,” Kennedy said during the appearance. “If they see a hostile, fractious discourse, if they see a discourse that uses identity politics rather than to talk about issues, democracy is at risk. Freedom is at risk.”

Kennedy, who stepped down from the bench in 2018, has been an outspoken critic of America's heated political discourse since he left the Supreme Court. At times, Kennedy's defense of democracy has put him at odds with President Donald Trump, who has called for "USA-hating" judges to be removed from their positions and arrested.

This kind of language has inspired threats against judges, Kennedy noted.

“Judges must have protection for themselves and their families,” Kennedy said. “Our families are often included in threats.”

Kennedy wasn't the only judge on the panel to remark about how political rhetoric in America is damaging its democratic institutions. U.S. District Judge Esther Salas noted how this rhetoric has caused the country to lean toward authoritarianism.

“Judges are rogue. Sound familiar? Judges are corrupt. Sound familiar? Judges are monsters...Judges hate America,” Salas said. “We are seeing the spreading of disinformation coming from the top down.”