Kamala Harris warns Trump 'must be stopped' from handpicking more Supreme Court justices

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Vice President Kamala Harris cautioned against more Supreme Court of the United States appointments under President Donald Trump, warning of broader institutional implications. Her remarks come amid political mobilization and judicial scrutiny.

The developments also intersect with recent legal disputes over clashes between the courts and Trump administration policies, prompting public criticism from the president directed at key judicial figures.

Kamala Harris says SCOTUS must not become 'even more beholden' to Trump

Harris warned that Trump must not be allowed to “hand pick one, if not two, additional justices,” stressing that Democrats “must be clear-eyed about what is at stake with the Supreme Court right now.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she shared a The New York Times report detailing how a liberal organization is preparing a multimillion-dollar campaign to oppose potential nominees.

According to the report, Josh Orton, president of Demand Justice, stated that the initiative would cost $3 million initially and an additional $15 million if vacancies arise. Potential vacancies could involve Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, currently aged 77 and 76, respectively.

The report added that if Democrats secure Senate control by flipping at least four Republican-held seats in the November elections, Trump’s chances of confirming nominees would diminish significantly. 

Conversely, if a Democrat succeeds him, both Thomas and Alito would likely be in their 80s before another Republican president could appoint successors. Harris emphasized that the Supreme Court “must be stopped from becoming even more beholden” to Trump.

Her remarks followed reports that Justice Alito was briefly hospitalized after feeling unwell during an event on March 20, later returning home after treatment for dehydration, according to a statement from Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe, cited by CNN.

Trump's criticism of Supreme Court and expanding judicial disputes

Trump sharply criticized the Supreme Court after a 6–3 ruling blocked his use of an emergency law to impose sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The majority held that the law “does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.”

Speaking at a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner on March 25, the president expressed frustration with Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, stating that two justices he appointed “sicken” him and are “bad for our country.”

He also said he was “ashamed” of certain members of the court for lacking “the courage to do what’s right.”

At a separate event hosted by Rice University, Chief Justice John Roberts warned against personal attacks on judges, noting that criticism has increasingly shifted from legal reasoning to individuals, which he described as “dangerous.” The dispute originated from Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs announced last April to address trade imbalances, which led to increased tariff revenue.

Since returning to the office, Trump and his allies have frequently criticized federal judges, labeling them “rogue” and “illegitimate.” A Reuters analysis found that of 31 emergency requests filed by Trump’s Justice Department since February 2025, 97% alleged improper judicial interference with presidential authority.

By comparison, only 26% of similar requests under former President Joe Biden made such claims. Additionally, 68% of Trump-era requests argued judges lacked jurisdiction, and 71% contested their authority to grant relief, compared to 16% and 63% respectively during the Biden administration.