“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” —President George Washington (1732-1799)

Flying flags at Justice Samuel Alito’s two homes—one the American flag flying upside down, the other, the Pine Tree Flag—are both unmistakably partisan symbols in support of former President Donald Trump and in opposition to President Joe Biden. That Alito has refused to recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases has only exacerbated the controversy and division in the country. Often, prudence, judgment, and wisdom are higher-ranked judicial qualities than legal logic-chopping.