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CNN —Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed Thursday that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips for Thomas in 2022 to attend a speech in Texas and a vacation at Crow’s luxurious New York estate, as ethics questions continue to rock the Supreme Court. Thomas made the disclosures after receiving an extension to file the yearly reports that were originally due in May 2023. In a statement after the ProPublica report, Thomas acknowledged the friendship but stressed that Crow did not have business before the court. In addition, he said that he should have disclosed a 2014 private real estate deal between Crow, Thomas and members of Thomas’ family. According to the disclosure, Thomas flew down to be the keynote speaker of the event in February, but returned via private jet “due to an unexpected ice storm.”The talk was rescheduled in May and Thomas rode round trip on Crow’s plane.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Dobbs, Roe, Wade, “, Crow, Samuel Alito, ProPublica, Thomas ’, ” Thomas, Virginia Thomas, Leola Williams, Williams, VII, –, Elliot S, Berke, Thomas “, ”, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Chip Somodevilla, Elena Kagan, Alito, ” Alito, Gabe Roth, he’s, ” Roth, Rome Alito, Duke Organizations: CNN, Republican, Judicial Conference, Old Parkland Conference, Hoover Institution, Manhattan Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Black Americans, Crow Holdings, Democrats, Supreme, Capitol, Rhode Island, Wall Street, Notre Dame, School’s, Liberty Initiative, Religious Liberty Summit, Regent University School of Law, Duke Law School Locations: Texas, New York, Georgia, Savannah , Georgia, Washington ,, Rome

☆ Clarence Thomas' lawyer says a billionaire bought his mom's house because it was in a blighted neighborhood full of junkies and they wanted her to keep living there
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Taylor Berman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Billionaire Harlan Crow bought Clarence Thomas' mom's house — which the justice partly owned — in 2014. The sale was undisclosed, raising questions about the ethics of billionaires secretly doing business with Supreme Court justices. Despite the obvious ethical concerns of a Supreme Court justice doing business with a billionaire, the sale was never disclosed, and only came to light thanks to ProPublica's reporting. "In 2014, Harlan Crow, a longtime friend of Justice and Mrs. Thomas, visited Savannah with Justice Thomas," the statement from Elliot S. Berke reads. "Mr. Crow indicated he wanted to preserve the home for a possible museum and asked his team to review the idea of doing so.

Persons: Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Crow, Justice Thomas, Elliot S, Berke, Mr, he'd, Williams, ProPublica, Berke didn't Organizations: Service, Supreme Locations: Wall, Silicon, Savannah

☆ Justice Thomas Defended Himself Over Ethics Questions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In his disclosure, Thomas addressed his decision to fly on a private jet belonging to the billionaire, Harlan Crow. Thomas said that he had been advised to avoid commercial travel after the leak of the draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating a constitutional right to an abortion. Thomas also defended his past filings, which did not include many of the trips with Crow and other wealthy friends, insisting that he had adhered to all judicial regulations. Unlike other federal judges, Supreme Court justices are not bound by formal ethics rules. Instead they follow what Chief Justice John Roberts has referred to as “ethics principles and practices.”

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Harlan Crow, Roe, Wade, John Roberts, ” Organizations: Crow Locations: Texas

☆ Clarence Thomas says he flew on private jets because of safety concerns after the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade leaked
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Clarence Thomas claims that he needed to use private jets in the wake of the Dobbs decision leak. Thomas' use of private jets and acceptance of lavish trips has received significant scrutiny. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Protestors later marched by the conservative justices' homes in the DC area following the leak and later the Supreme Court's final opinion that reversed Roe v. Wade. In the face of criticism, Thomas has argued that he did nothing wrong by failing to previously report his trips with Crow and others.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Dobbs, Thomas, Harlan Crow, Samuel Alito's, John Roberts, Roe, Brett Kavanaugh, Crow, filer Organizations: Service, Administrative, Congressional, Wade, Supreme, Judicial Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Harlan Crow appears throughout Clarence Thomas' 2022 financial disclosure after the Supreme Court justice never mentions gifts and vacations for years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Madison Hall | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed multiple times Harlan Crow paid for his flights in 2022. Thomas' disclosure comes after reports raised questions about Thomas' relationship with Crow. It's partially notable that Thomas' 2022 form discloses how GOP megadonor Harlan Crow gave the justice flights, meals, and lodging as the justice appeared at events around the country. In the 2022 disclosure, Thomas noted that Crow reimbursed him on three occasions in 2022 for speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, or as a "guest of source." "It blows my mind that people assume that because Clarence Thomas has friends, that those friends have an angle."

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Crow, ProPublica, Roe, Wade, Samuel Alito, —, filer Organizations: Service, American Enterprise Institute, Dallas Morning News Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Justice Amy Coney Barrett arranged for someone to sing songs from 'Hamilton' at Ketanji Brown Jackson's welcome party
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett said she threw a welcome party for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Barrett told a judicial conference that she arranged for someone to sing "Hamilton" tunes at the bash, CNN reported. Jackson made history last year when she became the first Black woman Supreme Court justice. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Since Barrett's elevation to the high court, the Supreme Court has been rocked by high-profile ethics issues involving members of the court, which was not specfically brought up during the talk.

Persons: Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Barrett, Hamilton, Jackson, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden, Barrett —, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, —, I've, Donald Trump, specfically, Clarence Thomas, ProPublica, megadonor Harlan Crow, Thomas, Samuel Alito Organizations: Justice, CNN, Service, Associated Press, Appeals, Circuit, Senate, Democrats Locations: Wall, Silicon, Wisconsin

☆ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and House Democrats push Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Clarence Thomas' lavish gifts from billionaires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A group of House Democrats has asked the DOJ to investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The letter stated that Thomas should be investigated because of the dozens of gifts he failed to disclose. On Thursday, after ProPublica published its latest report, a chorus of Democrats called on Thomas to resign, according to Politico. In April, Crow and Thomas first faced scrutiny related to the 20 years worth of undisclosed trips Crow is accused of gifting to Thomas, per ProPublica. The outlet later reported that Crow purchased Thomas' mother's house and allowed her to live there without paying rent.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Garland, Harlan Crow, ProPublica, Crow, unearthing, SCOTUS, Jamie Raskin, Hank Johnson, Ted Lieu, Jerry Nadler, Thomas's, gifting, Thomas —, —, Michaela Rose, John Roberts Organizations: House Democrats, DOJ, Service, Supreme, of Justice, GOP, Democrats, Politico, Reps, Dallas Morning News, ProPublica, SCOTUS Locations: Wall, Silicon, Alexandria, Rochelle

☆ Trump's lawyers wanted Clarence Thomas to review their 2020 election lies, saying he was their 'only chance' of stopping Biden's victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump's lawyers wanted Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to help them stop Biden's 2020 election. One Trump lawyer wrote that "our only chance to get a favorable judicial opinion" that "might hold up the Georgia count in Congress, is from Thomas." one Trump lawyer, Kenneth Chesebro, wrote in a December 31, 2020 email to other attorneys working on Trump's behalf to nullify Biden's victory. Thomas is the circuit justice for Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, meaning he oversees emergency requests coming from those states. He was referring to the conservative lawyer John Eastman, who was one of the recipients of the email.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Trump, Thomas, Donald Trump's, —, Joe Biden's, Biden, Kenneth Chesebro, Chesebro, Jan, Thomas —, Eastman, John Eastman, I've, Jack Smith's, Eastman haven't Organizations: Service, Capitol, New York Times, Trump, Georgia Legislature Locations: Georgia, Wall, Silicon, Trump's, Georgia , Alabama, Florida

☆ US Supreme Court's Clarence Thomas enjoyed array of luxury perks, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Andrew Chung | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses during a group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., October 7, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File PhotoAug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been treated to far more luxury vacations and exclusive perks from wealthy patrons than previously known, news organization ProPublica reported on Thursday, raising more questions about the lack of binding ethical standards at the court. At least twice, the late billionaire businessman Wayne Huizenga sent his personal 737 jet to pick Thomas up and bring him to South Florida, ProPublica reported. Unlike other members of the federal judiciary, the life-tenured justices have no binding ethics code of conduct, though they are subject to certain financial disclosure laws. At an event in May, Roberts said the court is considering steps to "adhere to the highest standards of conduct."

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Evelyn Hockstein, ProPublica, Thomas, Wayne Huizenga, Harlan Crow, Roe, Wade, John Roberts, Samuel Alito recuses, Alito, Roberts, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: Supreme, REUTERS, Democratic, Committee, Judicial Conference, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Florida, Jamaica, South Florida, Dallas, Alaska

☆ Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas took lavish vacations with a billionaire who criticized student-loan forgiveness months before the Supreme Court struck it down, new report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A new ProPublica report found Clarence Thomas has accepted more undisclosed gifts from billionaires. On Thursday, ProPublica released an investigation that revealed new information on the gifts billionaires have given Thomas over the years. Months later, the Supreme Court in June indeed struck down the student-debt relief, with Thomas voting in the majority. Last month, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would create a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices, but it's unlikely the bill will pass under a Republican-controlled House. Can Congress do various things to regulate the Supreme Court?

Persons: Clarence Thomas, David Sokol, Thomas, Justice Alito, ProPublica, Sokol, Joe Biden's, Biden's, Harlan Crow, Sam Alito, Paul Singer, Alito, Elena Kagan, We're Organizations: Service, Nebraska, Berkshire, Supreme, Republican, Street, Liberal Locations: Wall, Silicon, Wyoming, Berkshire Hathaway, Nebraska, Jackson Hole , Wyoming

☆ Clarence Thomas accepted previously undisclosed luxury vacations with rich friends that likely cost millions: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Clarence Thomas took at least 38 other previously undisclosed luxury trips, ProPublica reported. The outlet estimates that Thomas has accepted millions in trips he didn't report since joining the court. According to its latest story, Thomas accepted a Bahamas trip, a stay at a luxury Jamaica resort, and premium seats to games. According to ProPublica's report, Thomas has accepted at least 38 other premium vacations that he did not previously disclose. The sheer level of what Thomas has accepted is staggering, a former federal judge responsible for financial disclosures told the outlet.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, ProPublica, Thomas, Jeremy Fogel, Paul, Tony, Novelly, Wayne Huizenga, David Sokol, Huizenga, Gary, Sokol, Virginia, Justice Thomas, he's, Samuel Alito Organizations: Service, Supreme, Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, Berkshire, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Big, Congressional, Republicans Locations: Bahamas, Jamaica, Wall, Silicon, Nebraska

☆ Justice Clarence Thomas enjoyed more vacations, private flights and perks thanks to wealthy friends, new ProPublica report details
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

These costly trips and travel perks often went unreported on the justice’s financial disclosure forms, ProPublica said in its investigation. Lynne Sladky/APProPublica interviewed more than 100 people, including staff that would have worked some of the trips that Thomas took. Thomas did not respond to ProPublica’s detailed list of questions for its report, nor did Novelly. None of the Thomas benefactors highlighted in the new report appear to have had direct business in front of the Supreme Court, ProPublica said. Thomas intends to amend his financial disclosure forms, a source close to the justice previously told CNN, to at least reflect Crow’s 2014 purchase of Thomas’ mother’s home.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thomas, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Thomas ’, Crow, “, ” Thomas, David Sokol, Berkshire Hathaway, Wayne Huizenga, Paul “ Tony ” Novelly, Lynne Sladky, Huizenga, Daniel Acker, Getty Images Sokol, ” Sokol, Republican megadonors, he’s, Paul Anthony, Tony, Novelly, Horatio, Jeremy Fogel, ”, Fogel, Horatio Alger, John Roberts, Roberts, Samuel Alito, Thomas ’ mother’s, Anthony Welters, Obama Organizations: CNN, GOP, Blockbuster, Waste Management Inc, NFL, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, US Marshals Service, Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Bloomberg, Getty Images, Republican, Horatio Alger, Distinguished, Horatio, Horatio Alger Association, New York Times, The New York Times, Democratic, Times Locations: Florida, Berkshire, Miami, Omaha , Nebraska

☆ Clarence Thomas purchased his luxury RV with the help of a wealthy former healthcare executive: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas purchased a $267,000 RV with the help of a wealthy friend. A spokesperson for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement to the Times, Welters said he had provided Thomas a loan so he could buy the RV. But Welters refused to say how much money he had lent the Supreme Court justice, nor on what terms. The revelation comes amid a push to impose new ethics requirements on Supreme Court justices.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Welters, Barack Obama, Ginni, —, Reagan, Beatrice, Obama, Harlan Crow, Sen, Dick Durbin Organizations: The New York Times, Service, Supreme, New York Times, Times, Historical Society, Illinois Democrat Locations: The, Wall, Silicon, America, Illinois

Justice Clarence Thomas met the recreational vehicle of his dreams in Phoenix, on a November Friday in 1999. With some time to kill before an event that night, he headed to a dealership just west of the airport. In the words of one of his biographers, “he kicked the tires and climbed aboard,” then quickly negotiated a handshake deal. A few weeks later, Justice Thomas drove his new motor coach off the lot and into his everyman, up-by-the-bootstraps self-mythology. “I don’t have any problem with going to Europe, but I prefer the United States, and I prefer seeing the regular parts of the United States,” he told the filmmakers, adding: “There’s something normal to me about it.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Prevost Le, “, ”, Justice Thomas Locations: Phoenix, Washington, Georgia, R.V, Europe, United States

☆ Justice Elena Kagan publicly contradicts Alito, says Congress can pass SCOTUS ethics reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Justice Elena Kagan appeared to publicly contradict Justice Samuel Alito on congressional power. Alito previously suggested Congress doesn't have the power to regulate the Supreme Court. Kagan, an Obama appointee, said there are clearly examples of Congress' ability to regulate the court. "Of course, Congress can regulate various aspects of what the Supreme Court does," she said. "Congress funds the Supreme Court.

Persons: Elena Kagan, Samuel Alito, Alito, doesn't, We're, Kagan, Samuel Alito's, George W, Bush, John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Paul Singer, Roberts, we've Organizations: Service, Circuit Judicial, Politico, Wall, Washington Post, Republicans, Democrat, Committee, Journal, CNN Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Supreme Court: John Roberts can't get an ethics code. Samuel Alito's interview shows why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Joan Biskupic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When the Supreme Court left for its summer recess in June, the justices were at a stalemate on adopting a formal ethics code. Chief Justice John Roberts has been seeking unanimity among the nine justices for firm ethics standards, CNN has learned, but such agreement has eluded him. He told the WSJ writers that he was speaking out to defend himself and the Supreme Court because “nobody else” would. “Even assuming that trip is somehow relevant to present concerns about Supreme Court ethics, the connection is highly attenuated, focused on ‘an object remote’ from purported ‘legitimate concerns’ about ethics standards,” Rivkin wrote. A separate Associated Press investigation recently focused on liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s use of Supreme Court staff to coordinate and promote the sale of her books.

Persons: John Roberts, Samuel Alito’s, Alito, “, ”, ” Alito, David B, Rivkin Jr, Rivkin, Leonard Leo, Brett Kavanaugh, Leo, – Alito, Paul Singer, Singer, ” Rivkin, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Crow, Thomas ’, Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor’s, ’, Roberts, Sen, Murphy, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Supreme, WSJ, Republicans, Wall Street Journal, Federalist Society, Democrats, Republican, Associated Press, Congress, House, CNN’s Locations: Alaska, Georgia, CNN’s “ State, Connecticut

☆ Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito gives a middle finger to Congress: 'No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court — period.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Madison Hall | Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito spoke to The Wall Street Journal about congressional oversight. "No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court," he said. "Congress did not create the Supreme Court," Alito said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court — period." "Dear Justice Alito: You're on the Supreme Court in part because Congress expanded the Court to 9 Justices," Lieu tweeted.

Persons: Samuel Alito, Alito, Ted Lieu, Lieu, Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, David B, Rivkin, Moore, SCOTUS, Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas, Crow, gifting, Thomas, Thomas —, —, ProPublica, Paul Singer Organizations: Wall Street, Service, Democratic, Twitter, GOP, Dallas Morning News, Democrats Locations: Wall, Silicon

Corporate execs and lawyers with business before the Supreme Court mingled with some of the country's most influential jurists. Revelations about Thomas and Crow's relationship have prompted calls in Congress for the Supreme Court to adopt its first-ever binding code of ethics. But as a Supreme Court justice, Kagan is not currently bound by those rules. The Aspen Institute isn't alone in dangling Supreme Court access to lure deep-pocketed donors. Financial support for a public mission flowed one way, and scheduled private time with Supreme Court justices was dispensed in return.

Persons: Meryl Chertoff, Kagan, Michael Chertoff, SCOTUS, Elena Kagan, execs, Brett Kavanaugh, Trump, Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Kathleen Clark, Louis, Clark, Kavanaugh —, Shook, Hardy, Bacon, Tristan Duncan, Peabody, Christina Sullivan, Brian O'Connor, Sandra Day O'Connor, Lakhani, That's, litigator, George W, Bush, Michael Chertoff's, wasn't, he'd, Chertoff, John Roberts, Gabe Roth, Roth, Crow, Rob Schenck, Tom Monaghan, Jay Sekulow, Sidney Powell —, Sonia Sotomayor's, that's Organizations: Service, Aspen Institute, DC, Aspen, Washington University, Peabody Energy, Peabody, Duncan, Speedway, Supreme, Aspen Institute's Justice, Society, Homeland Security, Chertoff, CNN, The New York Times, Historical Society, Trump, Associated Press, University of Colorado Law School Locations: Wall, Silicon, St, Washington, Pakistan, Chertoff, Aspen Institute isn't

☆ A film, websites, and even a Twitter fan account praising Clarence Thomas were all part of a coordinated public relations campaign backed by nonprofit groups tied to a Federalist Society chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But one recent PR campaign has centered on Justice Clarence Thomas, The Washington Post reported. But one more recent campaign was directed at Justice Thomas, who had already spent about three decades on the Court's bench. According to the Post, a nonprofit called the Judicial Education Project paid the lawyer about $300,000 in 2016 for "media projects." "Since his confirmation on October 15, 1991, Justice Thomas has been a stalwart defender of the original meaning of the Constitution." The comment was made years ago in a 2007 biography of Thomas, "Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas."

Persons: Leonard Leo, Clarence Thomas, Leo, Thomas, Anita Hill, Kerry Washington, Wendell Pierce, Mark Paoletta —, Paoletta, HBO's, Len Amato, —, Michael Pack, Ginni Thomas, Harlan Crow, Kentanji Brown, JCN, Leonard Leo's Organizations: Washington Post, Service, The Washington Post, Federalist Society, Post, HBO, Trump White House, Judicial, Project, Politico, Daily, Washington Examiner, Post . Records, CRC, Relations, Advisors, Judicial Crisis, New York Times, Crisis Locations: Wall, Silicon, Virginia, United States, Jackson

☆ Opinion | Should No Labels Run a Presidential Candidate?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “With Centrist Platform, No Labels Pushes Cause and Latent Third-Party Bid” (news article, July 16):Although I would love to see our two-party system evolve and I think less acrimony is essential to moving forward, I have two basic problems with the No Labels party idea. First, the U.S. system simply doesn’t support the creation of viable alternate parties. Until the barriers in place are removed, all third parties can do is play spoiler. For the first time in U.S. history, we have one party actively and unashamedly undermining the rule of law and democracy itself. Then it will be a great time to change the rules so we don’t have this seemingly black or white constraint for choice of candidate.

Persons: Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas Locations: U.S, Texas

☆ Senate panel set to vote on US Supreme Court ethics reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Thursday was set to debate and vote on Democratic-backed legislation that would mandate a binding ethics code for the U.S. Supreme Court following revelations that some conservative justices have failed to disclose luxury trips and real estate transactions. It would require the justices to adopt a code of conduct as well as create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations. Unlike other members of the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court's nine life-tenured justices have no binding ethics code of conduct. The legislation would face long odds to win passage on the Senate floor, where it would need some Republican support to advance. Democratic senators have said these reports show that the court cannot be trusted to police itself.

Persons: Sheldon Whitehouse, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, ProPublica, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: Democratic, U.S, Republican, Representatives, Dallas, Politico, Thomson Locations: Alaska, Colorado

☆ US Senate Democrats pursue Supreme Court ethics legislation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Unlike other members of the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court's nine life-tenured justices have no binding ethics code of conduct. "The Supreme Court does a good job of that on their own," Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Reuters, referring to ethics rules. Senator John Kennedy, another Republican panel member, questioned whether lawmakers possess the power to impose ethics standards on the court. The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Supreme Court ethics concerns in May, but conservative Chief Justice John Roberts rebuffed Durbin's invitation to testify, citing "the importance of preserving judicial independence." That code, binding to lower federal court judges but not the justices, requires judges to avoid even the "appearance of impropriety."

Persons: Sheldon Whitehouse, Whitehouse, Dick Durbin, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, ProPublica, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Mike Lee of, John Kennedy, I'm, Kennedy, John Roberts, Roberts, they're, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: Democrats, U.S, Democratic, Republican, Representatives, Dallas, Politico, Reuters, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Alaska, Colorado, Mike Lee of Utah

☆ Harlan Crow's jaunts on his yacht with Justice Clarence Thomas were a 'textbook billionaire tax scam,' Sen. Ron Wyden tells ProPublica
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Justice Clarence Thomas and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow's yacht trips have come under scrutiny again. Per ProPublica, Crow registered his yacht as a charter vessel but only took close friends on trips. As a result, he could pay his own company, report losses, and save on his tax bill, per ProPublica. Some of those were trips aboard Crow's yacht, the Michaela Rose, and were organized through Rochelle Charter, a company registered to charter the yacht. In April, Crow and Thomas first faced scrutiny related to the 20 years worth of undisclosed trips Crow is accused of gifting to Thomas, per ProPublica.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan, Per, Crow, Thomas, Michaela Rose, Ron Wyden, ProPublica, gifting, Thomas —, — Organizations: Service, Privacy, ProPublica, Dallas Morning News, Democrats Locations: Wall, Silicon, Rochelle

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the second Black justice to sit on the court after Thurgood Marshall, has spent years opposing affirmative action. When the high court struck down the policy last month, Justice Thomas was one of the most influential figures behind the ruling. Abbie VanSickle, who covers the Supreme Court for The Times, explains the impact affirmative action has had on Justice Thomas’s life and how he helped to bring about its demise.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thurgood Marshall, Thomas, Abbie VanSickle Organizations: The Times

☆ A federal judge harshly criticized the Supreme Court's recent ethics scandals in a NYT essay: 'What in the world has happened'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A federal judge in Massachusetts wrote a scathing opinion essay in the New York Times, excoriating the Supreme Court's recent ethical debacles. Judge Michael Ponsor, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, said the high court needs a code of ethics. Following the reports of several Supreme Court justices crossing ethical lines, a plethora of congressional Democrats have also called for the Supreme Court to institute a code of ethics. As it stands, the high court does not have one, and the court's chief justice has pushed back on efforts to instate one. "The Supreme Court will no longer exist as a truly viable institution if it continues the failure to face the need for a code of ethics," Blumenthal said.

Persons: Michael Ponsor, Bill Clinton, Michel Ponsor, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor's, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Blumenthal Organizations: New York Times, Service, Court, District, Massachusetts, Democratic, Committee Locations: Massachusetts, Wall, Silicon

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