CBS Legal Chief: Calling the Supreme Court 'Corrupt' Is 'Patently False' and Dangerous

Jan Crawford, CBS News chief legal correspondent, pushed back against broad claims that the U.S. Supreme Court is "corrupt," calling that narrative inaccurate and harmful to public confidence in the judiciary.

On CBS' Face the Nation, Crawford said the panel was identifying the year's most underreported stories. While other panelists named topics such as expansive uses of presidential pardons and reductions in the federal workforce, Crawford singled out what she sees as an overblown narrative about political corruption at the Court.

"There is a narrative that the Supreme Court is corrupt," Crawford said. "We saw that emerge in the wake of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, and we’ve seen it again with claims the justices are in the tank for Donald Trump. Not only is that narrative overreported, it is patently false, and it is dangerous for the institution, and the public’s faith and confidence in the rule of law."

Crawford emphasized that the Court has been ideologically conservative for about two decades and argued that ideological disagreement does not equal corruption. "People can disagree and do disagree with their opinions, but it’s profoundly wrong to call it or say 'corruption' where, in fact, there is none," she said.

Crawford argued that claiming the Supreme Court was "corrupt" is "dangerous."

Instead of sensational allegations, Crawford urged more reporting on how the judicial branch functions: the role of justices, modes of constitutional interpretation, and the Court’s long-term place in the constitutional system. She described the institutional debate over interpretation as legitimate and expected, not evidence of institutional rot.

She also recalled earlier criticisms she made of some Senate Democrats, whom she said led a "calculated effort" to undermine the Court's legitimacy after the Dobbs decision, including hearings and aggressive coverage that she described as sometimes overblown.

Fox News Digital reported the Face the Nation segment and said it reached out to the Supreme Court for comment.

Why It Matters

Crawford framed this discussion as consequential to public trust. She argued that unfounded claims of corruption can erode confidence in the rule of law and the judicial process at a moment when civic institutions face intense scrutiny.