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Yesterday, the New York Occasions reported that at his trip dwelling on Lengthy Seaside Island, NJ, Supreme Court docket justice Samuel Alito displayed an “Attraction to Heaven” flag, above an LBI flag and one commemorating the Phillies’ 2022 Nationwide League pennant. The flag was documented a number of occasions all through 2023, with even Google Road View capturing it. It’s the one occupying the highest of the Alitos’ flagpole — the spot normally reserved for the American flag — and is also referred to as the Pine Tree flag. It dates again to the Revolutionary Battle, however has seen a resurgence in reputation as a logo of Christian nationalism and help for Donald Trump. It was favored by a spiritual pressure of January sixth rioters.
Attraction to Heaven flag on January 6 (Picture by Brent Stirton/Getty Photos)
For these retaining observe at dwelling, that’s the second flag favored by insurrectionists flown in entrance of an Alito residence.
However it’s symbolism is greater than *simply* pro-Trump. It’s about Christian nationalism.
In 2013, Mr. [Dutch] Sheets, a distinguished determine in a far-right evangelical motion that students have known as the New Apostolic Reformation, found the almost forgotten [pine tree] flag and made it the image of his ambitions to steep the nation and the federal government in Christianity, he wrote in a 2015 e book additionally titled “An Attraction to Heaven.”
“Rally to the flag,” he wrote. “God has resurrected it for such a time as this. Wave it outwardly: put on it inwardly. Attraction to heaven day by day for a religious revolution that may knock out the Goliaths of our day.”
Samuel Alito is a person sworn to uphold the Structure however on a number of occasions, in a number of areas, his properties have displayed flags most well-liked by insurrectionists. Whereas a standard individual may worry reprisals from the job the place his guarantees don’t line up along with his flag decisions, Alito has no such points. Alito merely doesn’t give a fuck. He should pay attention to the message he’s fairly actually hoisting, and despite the fact that that’s in stress with circumstances earlier than the Court docket, he doesn’t care that he’s signaling his politics — and votes on these circumstances.
As reported by the Occasions, this isn’t a backwards-looking challenge, as there are circumstances at present earlier than the Court docket the place Alito is messaging his emotions.
In the course of the interval the Attraction to Heaven flag was seen flying on the justice’s New Jersey home, a key Jan. 6 case arrived on the Supreme Court docket, difficult whether or not those that stormed the Capitol could possibly be prosecuted for obstruction.
In coming weeks, the justices will rule on that case, which might scuttle a few of the expenses towards Mr. Trump, in addition to on whether or not he’s immune from prosecution for actions he took whereas president. Their selections will form how accountable he might be held for attempting to overturn the final presidential election and his probabilities at regaining the White Home within the subsequent one.
As regulation professor Charles Geyh mentioned, “All of us have our biases, however the good choose fights towards them. When a choose celebrates his predispositions by hoisting them on a flag that’s deeply disturbing.”
Disturbing, sure. However I’d guess you a fried lobster dinner at LBI mainstay Howard’s Restaurant adopted by an ice cream sundae on the Skipper Dipper that precisely zero can be achieved about it.[1] Lifetime appointments imply never having to say you’re sorry. Alito is safe within the information that in these partisan occasions, it’s just about unimaginable that 67 senators would agree to carry the justice accountable.
So we’re left with clear proof that one of many 9 unelected superlegislators is within the tank for far-right and Christian causes in a rustic the place we’re supposedly assured freedom of faith. If this doesn’t scare you, it’s solely since you agree with Alito.
[1] I’m initially from Staten Island. In fact I’ve spent vital quantities of day without work of exit 63 on the Backyard State.
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Regulation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the very best, so please join along with her. Be happy to electronic mail her with any suggestions, questions, or feedback and comply with her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
