Supreme Court unveils ethics code — but it’s vague and unenforceable, experts say
“The high court unveiled an unprecedented 14-page code of conduct on Nov. 13, following a series of allegations that multiple justices acted unethically.”
“Vague and unenforceable
The code is unlikely to curtail unethical behavior as it’s imprecise and unenforceable, according to legal experts.
“The language in the Code of Conduct is exceedingly vague,” Paul Collins, a professor of legal studies at University of Massachusetts Amherst, told McClatchy News in an email.
“Most importantly, there appears to be no enforcement mechanism,” Collins said. “So, I read this code of conduct as an acknowledgement of the criticisms the Court is currently facing – which has resulted in historically low public approval – but not as a serious effort to address the ethical issues facing the Court.””
MEGA Donors,
MEGA Donor,
Chief justice urged to make Alito and Thomas step aside in megadonor cases
“More than 40 watchdog groups call on John Roberts to force US supreme court justices to step aside after ethics scandals“
2019:
Supreme Court justices continue to rack up trips on private interest dime
“Supreme Court justices continue to take trips across the globe on the dime of private individuals and other entities, raising questions about whether those sponsoring the trips could have influence over those serving on the high court.
The Supreme Court’s nine justices disclosed taking a combined 64 trips in 2018 in which various aspects such as transportation, food and lodging were reimbursed by others, according to annual financial disclosures released Thursday by the Office of Government Ethics.
Since 2004, when OpenSecrets first began tracking Supreme Court financial disclosure data, justices have disclosed taking 1,306 trips reimbursed by others.”
Not just trips,
2023
Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations: The Other Billionaires Who Have Treated the Supreme Court Justice to Luxury Travel
This strikes me as rich people have been using their riches to benefit some SCOTUS judges so they can keep their riches
The Supreme Court May Preemptively Ban a Federal Wealth Tax
“Given the recent ethics questions about justices’ interactions with billionaires, it’s an interesting case to take on.”
Roberts destroyed our politics with Citizens United v FEC and Shelby County v Holder – Keith Olbermann made 30 predictions the day Citizens United v FEC decision was announced – he went 30 for 30!
This is BAD!
The Fake Request for a Wedding Website at the Heart of SCOTUS’ Anti-LGBTQ Ruling
It apparently took six years for anyone to verify the identity of Stewart, whose phone number and website appear unredacted in court documents. When Melissa Gira Grant of the New Republic texted him last week, Stewart—who is real, and lives in California—was “flabbergasted,” as he later told the Washington Post.
Stewart, as it turns out, is a graphic designer himself. He’s straight and has been married for 15 years to a woman, he informed Grant. And he had never submitted a request for design services to Smith, he told her. Grant wrote:
“I don’t live inside Stewart’s computer—there’s a chance that he’s not telling me the whole story; that this is some elaborate prank he pulled years ago and doesn’t want to confess to now. But if he’s telling the truth—that this request was done completely without his knowledge—I don’t have any answers for him. None of this makes sense to me.“”
SCOTUS For Sale Now?
Alito in the hot seat over trips to Alaska and Rome he accepted from groups and individuals who lobby the Supreme Court
Must-Watch TV!
It appears our US Supreme Court is Bought and Paid for now – Alito and Thomas!
Chief Justice John Roberts punts on request to investigate Clarence Thomas
Roberts instead referred the request from Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin to the Judicial Conference, which serves as the policy-making body of the federal courts.”
“Chief Justice John Roberts has declined to directly respond to a congressional request to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas’ alleged ethical lapses.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas reportedly has been claiming thousands of dollars annually from a shuttered real estate firm
“KEY POINTS
- Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas reported that his family has earned rental income from a Nebraska real estate firm that has been shuttered since 2006, according to The Washington Post.
- In recent years, Thomas reportedly continued to disclose between $50,000 and $100,000 in income from the old firm annually.
- It marks the latest question around the justice’s financial practices after a recent ProPublica report revealed Thomas has accepted secret luxury trips from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.”
