BELLEVUE, Wash. — Justice Elena Kagan, a liberal member of the U.S. Supreme Court, addressed a gathering of lawyers and judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit in Bellevue, Washington. She discussed the court’s relationship with the executive branch, noting that while the court is conservative, it does not simply support President Donald Trump without question.

Kagan highlighted instances where the court has exercised its authority to check the executive branch. While the court has generally sided with Trump’s administration, such as on immigration policies and federal regulatory powers, there have been notable exceptions. These include rulings against Trump’s proposed tariffs and his attempts to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

Kagan asserted, “Is this court very conservative? Yes. But is this court a puppet for the current administration? Definitely not.” Her comments come amid declining public trust in the Supreme Court, with some critics accusing justices of being politically motivated. Chief Justice John Roberts has also defended the court, emphasizing that justices are not “political actors.”

Kagan, known for bridging divides, reiterated her support for a mechanism to enforce the Supreme Court’s newly adopted code of ethics. This code was introduced following criticism of undisclosed benefits from wealthy patrons to some justices. The court is still deliberating on enforcement methods for this code.

Additionally, Kagan shared an anecdote from a recent court session, where Trump attended oral arguments regarding his birthright citizenship order. She described his presence as largely understated, noting that Trump sat in a section typically reserved for Congress members and that many attendees did not notice him.

Kagan remarked, “He was just like a person who came in, sat down, and had to listen to an argument.” She speculated that Trump’s interest in attending similar events in the future might be minimal.