In 2022, tensions at the Supreme Court reached a boiling point following the leak of the Dobbs decision draft. Justice Elena Kagan reportedly lost her composure, screaming so loudly at Justice Stephen Breyer that the ‘wall was shaking,’ according to Mollie Hemingway’s forthcoming book. This intense moment underscored the deep divisions within the Court and the heightened security concerns fueled by threats against justices amid widespread protests.
The leak, which revealed the upcoming overturn of Roe v. Wade, led to violent protests, security measures, and a series of internal disputes. The book details how justices attempted to speed up dissent writing due to security risks, with Breyer showing notable willingness to support the liberal dissenters despite personal disagreement. The internal conflicts and the volatile atmosphere highlight the extraordinary stresses Justice Kagan and her colleagues endured in a heated ideological climate.