Justice Samuel Alito has refused to recuse himself from an upcoming tax case involving lawyer David Rivkin, who had interviewed Alito in two articles published in The Wall Street Journal. Sen. Richard Durbin had questioned Alito's participation in the case, but Alito released a statement saying there was no valid reason for his recusal. This decision has strengthened the conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the case in the coming months.
Posts tagged as “Samuel Alito”
Justice Alito Responds to Criticism from Senate Democrats Over Interview with Right-Wing Commentator
Justice Alito Responds to Criticism from Senate Democrats Over Interview with Right-Wing Commentator
Justice Samuel Alito of the Supreme Court issued a statement on Friday in response to criticism from Senate Democrats over his decision to grant two interviews to a right-wing commentator and attorney with a case before the court. Alito argued that the critics fail to understand “the circumstances under which Supreme Court Justices must work” and that the interview he gave violated no ethical standards. This statement is a reminder of the ongoing debate over ethical standards for Supreme Court Justices, as the court has yet to adopt an official ethics code.
The White House has filed a complaint against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for his involvement in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, in which he stated that Congress does not have the authority to impose ethics rules on the Supreme Court. In response, Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has sent a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, accusing Alito of obstructing a congressional investigation and demanding action. The White House's complaint is the latest in a series of attempts to hold the Supreme Court accountable for its actions.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has disclosed trips paid for by his friend, billionaire Harlan Crow, in his annual financial disclosure report. This has renewed focus on judicial ethics, as it is the first disclosure form filed by the justice since he came under scrutiny for his relationship with the Texas developer. The remaining seven justices have filed their 2022 reports, but it is unclear if any of them have had similar trips paid for by outside sources.
House Democrats, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for failing to disclose gifts and benefits from wealthy, politically active executives. The letter cites criticism from other members of Congress and calls for an investigation into Thomas’s actions, suggesting that if the court won’t reform itself, Congress should step in. The controversy has sparked a debate about ethics reform on the Supreme Court, and it remains to be seen whether the Attorney General will launch an investigation.
The Supreme Court has granted a temporary pause to the Biden administration's efforts to regulate so-called ghost guns, which are firearm-making kits available online. The regulations require background checks and registration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and are intended to protect public safety. Opponents of the regulations argue that they infringe on the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and the legal battle over the regulations is likely to continue in the lower courts.
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has expressed her support for an ethics code for the court, while noting that the justices are divided on the issue. This follows a series of controversial rulings and ethical controversies, and Kagan has suggested that Congress could take action to address the issue. It remains to be seen what action Congress will take.
A coalition of Senate Democrats has urged Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to take action to ensure Associate Justice Samuel Alito recuses himself from cases involving regulation of the court. The request follows a report of an undisclosed luxury fishing trip with a Republican billionaire who later had cases before the court, as well as a column written by a former clerk of Alito's that raised further questions about the court's ethical standards. The Democrats are asking Roberts to ensure Alito recuses himself from any cases involving laws that regulate the High Court, and it remains to be seen how Roberts will respond.