Key takeaways: Michael D. Bopp, Harlan Crow’s attorney, has agreed to speak with staff members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about Crow’s relationship with Supreme…
Posts tagged as “Dick Durbin”
Republican donor Harlan Crow has refused to provide information to Senate Judiciary Democrats about his relationship with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, arguing that doing so would exceed Congress' authority and violate separation of powers principles. The request was made in response to questions about gifts Crow has given to Thomas that have not been disclosed, raising concerns about potential influence on Thomas' decisions. Crow's refusal is likely to fuel the controversy surrounding their relationship, with it yet to be seen if the committee will take any further action.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) returned to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, providing a much-needed Democratic vote to advance three of President Joe Biden's judicial nominees on party-line votes. Her return was met with applause from her colleagues, as the panel was split between 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans prior to her return. The nominees will now move to the Senate floor for consideration, though it is unclear when the Senate will vote on them.
Eleven members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Dick Durbin, have requested that Harlan Crow, a Republican donor and real estate magnate, provide an itemized list of gifts and real estate transactions given to Supreme Court justices or their family members. The committee has requested that Crow provide the requested information by May 22, 2023 and has not yet received a response. This is part of the committee’s ongoing efforts to craft legislation strengthening the ethical rules and standards that apply to the Supreme Court.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has called for the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts to adopt a binding code of conduct in response to a ProPublica story that revealed Dallas real estate billionaire Harlan Crow had paid tuition for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ grandnephew. Durbin argued that the revelations demonstrate the need for a binding code of conduct, and his call for action has been echoed by other lawmakers. The Supreme Court currently has a code of conduct, but it is not binding.
This article discusses the upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the need for an ethics code of conduct for the Supreme Court. The hearing follows revelations that Justice Clarence Thomas had received lavish gifts from a conservative donor, and is being chaired by Senator Dick Durbin. It is expected to be closely watched, as it could have a major impact on the future of the Supreme Court.
Senate Judiciary Committee has requested answers from Chief Justice John Roberts regarding the Supreme Court's ethics policies. The letter was in response to a request from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for Roberts to appear before the committee or designate another justice to appear for a hearing. The senators listed several questions they wanted Roberts to answer, including how the court handles recusals, how it handles complaints of ethical misconduct, and how it ensures that justices are not influenced by outside sources.
Senators Angus King and Lisa Murkowski have introduced the Supreme Court Code of Conduct Act, which would require the Supreme Court to implement a code of conduct and designate an official to review potential conflicts of interest. Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation to testify at a committee hearing on the Supreme Court's ethics rules, but the justices have released a statement stressing their commitment to ethics principles. The bill is an important step in ensuring that the Supreme Court is held to the highest ethical standards.