What heavy metal band is each Supreme Court justice?

Those who know me well know that two things I love are the Supreme Court and heavy metal (not necessarily in that order). So this column asks the obvious question: What heavy metal band would each justice be?

Some ground rules. First, although my taste in metal tends to fall on the extreme side, we try to keep SCOTUSblog a family-friendly website. I’ve therefore avoided some of the more distasteful bands out there, as much as I might personally appreciate their oeuvres (my apologies, Cattle Decapitation). That said, this is heavy metal, so none of these bands are here to welcome you with a basket of puppies and dandelions.

Second, when matching a particular band with a justice, I consider both that band’s ethos and its history – for example, what the band stands for and what it has been through.

Third, I recognize that these choices are as subjective as they come, and I’ll therefore get serious criticism from all three members of the Supreme Court metal community regarding what justice would have gone better with what band. But it’s all in good fun, and I welcome the feedback.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, how metal I regard a particular justice does not reflect, in any way, their quality as a jurist. Some of the justices I admire most seriously lacked metal bona fides, and some I respect least I would consider full-blown metal maniacs.

But enough qualifiers. As Amon Amarth would say, raise your horns and let’s get to it!

Chief Justice John Roberts: The chief justice is, above all, an institutionalist. Roberts cares deeply for the reputation of the court, and he has been responsible for navigating it through extremely difficult times. Given his position, Roberts has also had to endure all of the slings and arrows that come with being first among equals.

What metal band comes most to mind here? Judas Priest, of course. Founded back in 1969 in Birmingham, England, and led by “Metal God” Rob Halford for the majority of its history, few bands (or persons) better represent the institution of heavy metal. Priest’s greatest album, Defenders of the Faith, says it all (though, admittedly, in very different words than the chief would employ).

But Priest does not just embody heavy metal through its music. Like Roberts, it has a history of taking a measured approach, even when its deepest foundations came under siege. This was reflected back in the mid-1980s, when the Parents Resource Music Center, an American music-monitoring committee co-founded by Tipper Gore, named one of Priest’s songs as part of the so-called “Filthy Fifteen.” Rather than lash out (as several others did at the time), Priest remained calm, collected, and cool, releasing a track called Parental Guidance; years later, Halford even expressed some understanding of the PRMC’s attempt to provide a set of guidelines for minors.

Justice Clarence Thomas: Throughout his 34 years on the court, Thomas has stood as its arch-originalist, attempting to ground his constitutional interpretations in the historical record. But two other things also stand out about the justice: his unwavering consistency and his unwillingness to bend in the face of criticism.   

So which metal band is Thomas? Although the choice wasn’t easy, I’ve settled on Bolt Thrower. The name alone is nearly enough to seal the deal. But there’s more. Like Thomas, Bolt Thrower has been around for some time now, having formed in 1986, five years before the justice took the bench. That said, it wasn’t until 1991, the year of Thomas’ confirmation, that Bolt Thrower released its first masterpiece, War Master. Coincidence? I think not.

But the similarities don’t end there. Like Thomas, Bolt Thrower is known, perhaps above all else, for its almost mechanical consistency. Pick up each album, and you know exactly what you’ll be hearing (indeed, I can hear that mechanical chug right now!). Peruse a Thomas opinion, and you know what you’ll be reading (indeed, I can see that attack on substantive due process as I type this). Furthermore, as reflected in albums like The IVth Crusade, Bolt Thrower cares deeply about history, something to warm the heart of any red-blooded originalist. Finally, Bolt Thrower has never been afraid to march to its own tune, something to which the fiercely independent Thomas can most certainly relate.

Justice Samuel Alito: Perhaps as equally uncompromising as Thomas, Alito has also written some of the court’s most influential decisions over the past few years. Alito is known for his aggressive writing style (and sharp questioning on the bench), which can be more than a tad caustic (Alito is, after all, from New Jersey). Combine that with the justice’s penchant for speaking his mind (whether at the State of the Union or to The Wall Street Journal), and to some of his critics, at least, his approach can feel a bit like, well, overkill.

Which brings us to Alito’s heavy metal band, named just that. Formed in 1980, the thrash legends Overkill, like Alito, hail from the wonderful state of New Jersey. But that’s not the only thing they share in common. Overkill’s albums, from the masterful Horrorscope to the excellent Ironbound, are as unrelenting and combative as they come, which is saying something for a genre characterized “by its overall aggression and fast tempo.” Nor are band members afraid to speak their mind, whether concerning the band’s remarkably long career or its position in the thrash pantheon. In any event, Overkill, like Alito, seems poised to continue causing a ruckus well into the foreseeable future.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor: Sotomayor perhaps cares more about the real-world consequences of the court’s decisions than any other justice. Having served first as a district court judge and then on a court of appeals, Sotomayor also has considerable experience within different rungs of the judiciary. And like many of her colleagues, she has generated (and continues to generate) controversy, from her remarks as a “wise Latina” to her sometimes blistering criticism of her fellow justices.

But what metal band is Sotomayor? I’m going to go with Rage Against the Machine. This is perhaps my most controversial pick – not because I believe this band doesn’t fit the senior-most Democratic-appointed justice, but because it’s contestable whether Rage is even a metal band (or, even worse, if they qualify as nu metal). But I will leave those debates to the genre police and stick with my choice.

First, and most obviously, few bands were as outspoken as Rage about society’s (perceived) social ills. Second, and relatedly, Sotomayor has spent much of her Supreme Court tenure raging against the machine (or machines), whether this consists of an overly aggressive executive branch, an unduly cautious court, or powerful business and economic interests.  Finally, as Sotomayor has experienced many different aspects of the judicial world, Rage has been through the wringer when it comes to the music world (from breakups to reunions to breakups and back again).

Justice Elena Kagan: Even those who disagree with Kagan’s decisions deeply respect her remarkable judicial acumen and fantastic writing. Considered the most moderate of the Democratic-appointed justices, Kagan has a reputation (whether earned or not) of being more willing to reach across the aisle than Sotomayor or Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. That said, Kagan is certainly ready and willing to chastise her colleagues when she thinks they’ve gotten something wrong.

This was a difficult pick, but I’m going with Opeth. Formed in Stockholm in 1990, Opeth has transformed from a quasi-traditional death metal band into progressive metal legends. Like Kagan, even those who don’t necessarily enjoy Opeth’s music respect their talent. Style-wise, the band is often restrained but unafraid to veer into harsher territory when the mood so strikes it (as was demonstrated on its latest album, The Last Will and Testament). Lastly, Opeth’s lead, Mikael Akerfeldt, is one of the finest writers in metal, weaving stories throughout his albums as Kagan is capable of doing in the best of her opinions.  

Justice Neil Gorsuch: On the current court, I would venture to say that Gorsuch is the most metal justice. Not only does he speak his mind, loudly and passionately, but he is unwilling to compromise his textualist principles even if they lead in some fairly unexpected directions. In other words, Gorsuch will zig when you think he might zag – especially when it comes to the rights of criminal defendants, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and cases concerning American Indians.

So I’m going with Celtic Frost. Frost was founded in Switzerland in 1984 by Thomas Gabriel Fischer. Like Gorsuch, everything Fischer does he does intensely, even if he sometimes stands alone while doing so. Relatedly, like Gorsuch, Fischer marches to his own drum. This has, admittedly, led him in some odd directions, such as Celtic Frost’s attempt at glam metal on the abysmal (and best forgotten) album Cold Lake. Even if their principles may lead them in unexpected directions, however, both Gorsuch and Fischer possess that most metal of traits: sheer, unbridled relentlessness.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh: Kavanaugh, along with Roberts, is the court’s swing justice. And, although Kavanaugh will typically align with the Republican-appointed justices, he will often pen a narrower opinion than his more vociferous colleagues. In general, Kavanaugh favors conciliation over bloodsport and prudence over zealousness.

Nothing could be less metal. But every justice must be matched, and so I’m going with Deafheaven. Formed in 2010 in San Francisco, Deafheaven is a so-called post-metal band, which means it composes lots of long songs with intricately textured soundscapes that, quite frankly, bore me to tears. Kavanaugh’s opinions, which are generally short and concise, do not bore me to tears. But Kavanaugh isn’t very metal, and Deafheaven isn’t either. So close enough.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett: Criticized for her alleged religious fervor before coming on to the court, Barrett has proven a bit of an enigma since joining it. Typically voting with her Republican-appointed colleagues, Barrett has nevertheless joined Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson in various high-profile cases. While this has only barely pleased liberal elites, it has infuriated MAGA world, leaving Barrett a bit of a woman alone.

Having once described herself as a “one jalapeño gal” based on her generally “restrained” judicial rhetoric – and given her inarguably wholesome background – Barrett is not very metal. But her judicial independence, which has alienated some of her formerly closest supporters, reminds me a bit of Megadeth. Led by Dave Mustaine, the former lead guitarist in Metallica, Megadeth has had a remarkably successful career despite Mustaine alienating much of his fanbase. Like Barrett, Mustaine is deeply religious, although Megadeth is no more a “Christian band” than Barrett is a “Christian justice.” To be fair, Barrett and Mustaine’s similarities pretty much end there, given Mustaine’s (let us say) tumultuous personal history. But perhaps the justice can take some comfort in knowing that even Megadeth’s harshest critics eventually came around (Super Collider aside). 

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Last but certainly not least is the most junior justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson. Over the past few years – and in the 2024-25 term especially – Jackson has perhaps outflanked Sotomayor as the court’s most outspoken critic of the current administration. This is reflected not only in the sheer volume of her written dissents — which in the 2024 term were the most of any justice — but also in Jackson’s refusal to refrain from aiming some harsh words at her colleagues.

Which brings me to grindcore legends Brutal Truth. Brutal Truth are unabashedly progressive in both their lyrics and outlook. Nor — as their name makes abundantly clear — are they at all afraid to hold back. And though their lyrical output may be a bit more pessimistic than some (but perhaps not all) of the junior justice’s writings, Jackson herself has acknowledged that her attitude on the court has been far from one of constant joy.

*I can hear it now: But what about former Justice Antonin Scalia? Slayer, obviously. No band has rivaled Slayer for its sheer, uncompromising brutality. No justice has rivaled Scalia for the same.