Analysis: The nine justices are increasingly building their own personal brands outside the court | CNN Politics

The Supreme Court has long presented itself as a uniform group of justices, all sheathed in long black robes. Its rulings are the product of a collective majority. And when justices refer to a precedent, they speak reverently of “The Court.” But “The Nine” more often resemble solo operators these days. Seven have written or are about to publish books telling of their own lives or approach to the law. Several have been on the stump in recent weeks, touting their individual message and views, sometimes seeing it backfire. This is not business as usual. There was a time when the late Justice Antonin Scalia (who served from 1986 to 2016), stood out for his confrontational speeches and prolific extracurricular writings. As he barnstormed campuses, building support for his originalist approach, he created an identity for himself beyond the bench. Today, multiple justices appear to be working on their brands. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch have undertaken recent book-related tours. Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh have books that will be published in upcoming months. The mix of today’s polarization, these particular j

Apr 22, 2026 → Apr 22, 2026