Did Clarence Thomas flout ethics rules?
On Wednesday, New York Rep. Louise Slaughter wrote to Chief Justice John Roberts asking that he formally reprimand his colleague Justice Clarence Thomas for participating in the conservative Federalist Society’s annual fundraiser. Thomas’ appearance at the event, writes Slaughter, is a ‘clear violation of the ethical standards embodied in the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges.’
Canon 4(c) of the Code of Conduct forbids judges from personally participating in fundraising events. Although it is not legally binding upon Supreme Court justices, Roberts has previously written that it provides ‘a current and uniform source of guidance’ for the members of the Court.
‘Justice Thomas is among several members of the high court who’ve made a habit of flouting judicial ethics by headlining Federalist Society fundraisers,’ said Pearson in a statement. ‘He gets away with it because the Court has exempted itself from the Code, but that doesn’t make it right.’
More to the point, perhaps there should be a formal code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices.
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