When I read that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas received private extremely valuable considerations from those interested in the Court’s business, I am reminded of a Social Security Administrative Law Judge who got into trouble because a local attorney allowed the ALJ to park his boat on a vacant lot the attorney owned.
13 comments:
It's a shame how he is tarnishing the way SCOTUS is viewed. Perhaps irreparable.
Why are civil servants held to higher standard than Congress, POTUS and the Supreme Court? I wasn't able to accept a gift over $10 bucks and accept meals.
11:51 While he could have shown better judgement there is no evidence that Thomas has changed a single decision, for financial considerations. That is all that really matters.
The Washington Post and other liberal newspapers have an agenda driven campaign, to tarnish him and the conservatives on the court. Because they don't like thet the court has taken an originalist direction.
@7:56
That's what happens when you make the rules I guess. And they think nothing of it.
I wonder if anyone who gave him gifts benefitted from a decision that he would not have normally made. Did he make a decision that a very conservative judge may not normally make?
Why is anyone surprised? His lack of character was there for all to see before he was confirmed.
I was told, as a low level fed employee, it's not just conflict of interest, it's also the appearance of a conflict we must avoid.
Also told I could accept a donut at a function I attended representing my agency, but not a sandwich.
Must be nice, having no rules at all.
12:28 You sound radicalized. Those of us with critical thinking skills understand that Thomas is an extremely corrupt individual who has nearly single handedly destroyed the reputation of the court. The damage he has wrought is incalculable.
Yeah, you’re right. Needs to be hard evidence of misdeed for any possible negative consequences. So weird that the judicial canons tend to require judges subject to them (i.e. every federal court other than SCOTUS) to avoid appearance of impropriety to avoid eroding the public trust. I wonder why that would be of a concern to the citizens of this country? But yeah, let’s jump on the tired liberal media refrain.
In fairness, he didn’t need to be bought and paid for. He’s going hard right regardless. It’s fun to pretend that the original drafters of the constitution felt corporations are people, that the 9th amendment is meaningless, etc., though.
In the past, the deference given the court (due to the fact that it is THE SCOTUS and as such its integrity and jurisprudence was considered above and beyond reproach) is the ONLY reason that parties other than the government have abided by its rulings since the founding of this country. It might not have always been right (god knows that is the truth), but fact was it was the SCOTUS and that was enough for everyone.
The writing has been on the wall for a while now that the day is rapidly approaching when certain states (i.e. probably first with California, on guns and/or abortion) are simply going to tell the SCOTUS to stick their rulings up their rear orifices and go their own way.
Sadly, I can only see this lessening (and it truly is, even if only the appearance of ongoing impropriety by the justices) of the SCOTUS bringing that day one day closer.
@12:28
Failure to report is a crime, up to $50,000 in fines and/or 6 months in jail. As to whether it changed his votes, I'm not certain, but I suspect it hasn't. It's still illegal.
Although it was over thirty years ago, does not anyone remember when he was nominated? Obviously ill-qualified for a Supreme Court that we used to know but apparently very qualified to be a hack that enriches himself and his wacky Q-Anon wife. Avoid even the appearance of impropriety, that is the maxim. Yet he wouldn't recognize a conflict it it slapped him in the face. What's worse, he doesn't care. Anita Hill was telling the truth.
@12:28
Guess what part of bribery is a crime? It's not the part where you change a decision based on the bribe. It's accepting the bribe itself!
Post a Comment