#FixTheCourt

[memenewsdotcom]

Biden proposes Supreme Court term limits

[anarchywoofwoof]

via fixthecourt on twitter.

supreme court justice clarence thomas has received in the neighborhood of $4mil~ in the form of hundreds of gifts over the last two decades from the likes of the Koch Brothers and other right wing groups.

supreme court justices as a whole make four times the median local salary. the three “originalist” members - Scalia, Alito and Thomas, comprise the top three justices in terms of $ received.

[schraubd]

Corruption in the Family

By now, you've no doubt heard about the ongoing corruption controversy regarding Justice Thomas failing to disclose numerous financial gifts from a billionaire conservative friend. To a large extent, the usual suspects are lining up to criticize Justice Thomas and the usual suspects are organizing to defend him. But I want to focus on one thing in particular, embodied by this tweet from former Thomas clerk and Notre Dame Law Professor Nicole Garnett.

I've known Justice Thomas for over 25 years. He is the rare person whose goodness matches his greatness. It breaks my heart that so many are willing to go so far to attack a good, and great, man for political gain.

— Nicole Garnett (@nsgarnett) April 13, 2023

I am sympathetic to Professor Garnett here. I truly am. I've often pondered how I would respond if a loved one -- a mentor, relative, parent, friend -- was credibly accused of corruption or some other dire crime. How would I handle it if the judge I clerked for, the late Diane E. Murphy, whom I absolutely adored, turned out to have accepted millions of dollars in "gifts" without proper disclosures?

Even in writing that sentence, I wanted to hasten to add "now, I could never imagine Judge Murphy doing such a thing." Which is true, I can't imagine it. Judge Murphy was an extraordinarily kind, generous, and humble person; universally respected by peers of all ideological persuasions. She was the furthest thing from a financial grandstander.

But that's just the thing: in most cases like this, the crime is unimaginable to the perpetrator's loved ones right up until it happens. It is a myth, I think, that most wrongs of this nature are only committed by persons whom, once the truth comes out, their closest relations will be like "you know what? He did seem the type." It's always going to be a shock to someone.

Be honest with yourself: when it comes to the people closest to you, would you actually know if they were doing something wrong akin to what Justice Thomas is accused of? "Know" not in the loose sense of "I know their character," but in the strong sense of "I'm familiar with their accounting practices"/"I've seen their disclosures"/"I know what's going in and out of their bank accounts"? We don't know. It would come as a shock. If you woke up tomorrow and your parent was arrested for skimming money from their job, you'd be blindsided, and not really because you have a blind spot as far as your parents are concerned. The truth is, you would have probably had no way of knowing what they were up to until the investigation actually broke. It really would be unfathomable, even were it true.

So I do sympathize with Professor Garnett. I don't think she's myopic in identifying Justice Thomas as a personally warm and generous human being (something I've heard from multiple sources). I don't think it is a function of self-delusion that she didn't see this coming.

But the fact is that, for essentially every scandal like this, the perpetrator has loved ones for whom the scandal comes as a terrible, unfathomable surprise. That doesn't mean it didn't happen. That doesn't mean it wasn't wrong. For the individuals affected, the dissonance between the person they know and the crime alleged is beyond abnormal, it is a terrible, almost irresolvable discordance. From the vantage of broader society, that discordance is utterly and mundanely normal -- it characterizes every single case.

And so ultimately, this response to Professor Garnett gets it exactly right:

Justice Thomas might possibly be — and we’ve heard this from multiple sources — the kindest, most generous justice on the Supreme Court. That doesn’t change the fact he’s involved in a massive ethics scandal of his own making. https://t.co/eO6YYXWe7c

— Fix the Court (@FixTheCourt) April 14, 2023

via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/U9TLzdX

[moneymyboyfriendowesme]

Parents! Don’t let your kids grow up to be abusive bullies, and maybe also teach them about the usefulness of owning their domain name...? #fixthecourt #believesurvivors #thankyoudrhill #thankyoudrford https://www.instagram.com/p/Bow8PFqhfYv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4p3i09k2wfzc

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CLIj_6NAWTj/?igshid=dqntwzvmy86j

[duaneodavila]

Maryanne Trump Barry Pulled A Kozinski

Donald Trump and Judge Maryanne Trump Barry (ED Jones/AFP/Getty Images).

The president’s sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, apparently left her seat on the Third Circuit earlier this year. Barry pulled off her February retirement without much fanfare, but people started to notice the judge’s absence this week. The 82-year-old judge apparently decided it was time to step aside, enjoy a blissful retirement, and squelch an investigation into her family’s long history of financial… issues.

Specifically, the NY Times’ report that built a detailed case that Fred Trump broke all sorts of tax laws to set up his kids — including Judge Barry and the current president — with a tidy fortune. The president’s attorneys have branded the report defamatory. The president’s attorneys have not taken any action over this claim because, you know, “discovery.”

Now, the government can’t prosecute someone for tax evasion that took place over 30 years ago, but the courts can launch an ethical inquiry into a sitting judge’s involvement in criminality.

And that’s what was happening and almost certainly why Judge Barry is now former Judge Barry. The court informed a complainant that the matter was being looked into as of February 1. She resigned on February 11, rendering the investigation moot.

If this move looks familiar, it’s because we saw the exact same maneuver when then-Judge Alex Kozinski bailed on his job to squelch an investigation into sexual misconduct.

Three cheers for the rule of law.

How many federal judges are we at now where a recent “retirement” has prevented investigation/punishment & and they’re still receiving a full pension? – Maryanne Barry – Alex Kozinski – Richard Roberts – Any others?

This is not a good look, @uscourts.

— Fix the Court (@FixTheCourt) April 11, 2019

Oh, right. Let’s not forget that judges who preemptively resign in order to short-circuit investigations that could result in their impeachment still get to hold onto their full pension! The taxpayers are still on the hook for paying a multimillionaire — potentially garnered through malfeasance — for life because she had the foresight to walk away before the investigation could get rolling.

America has truly been rendered great again.

Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

Maryanne Trump Barry Pulled A Kozinski republished via Above the Law

[suitedgladiators]

ABAJournal

Watchdog group @FixTheCourt says security for #SCOTUS justices may be lacking. https://t.co/KjqvgUTH4n via @ABAJournal. pic.twitter.com/AVbN4hxGLk

— ABA Journal (@ABAJournal) March 16, 2018

via Blogger http://ift.tt/2FLQY3h http://ift.tt/20qd6Z0

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKnG0LxAV-3/?igshid=1432zznf4eqy5

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKlolFWg9wQ/?igshid=o7ul02qkr5f1

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKloiYuARkp/?igshid=63d7zt500w7s

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKlodOtAYFD/?igshid=pwohsf3mjpsd

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKlobilgRJ6/?igshid=1poxg6tfsktak

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKloZvcAlNo/?igshid=7393d3mklka5

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKloQjFAYx1/?igshid=1rxub0eemdv47

[therealdeanloc]

Life is God, living, loving, teaching, and learning.Not prison for being young, black, and ignorant to a political system that teaches you that your sexuality is more important that your soul being saved, education, food on the table, and it is a crime to smile, frown, laugh, or cry. Those are not crimes it's the justification they use to abuse authority based on political views of a party line=legal gang banging. #wearethefuture #enthewaronhumans #endinequality #endgendermandates #endpartylines #endthewarondrugs #13thammendment #1stammendment #2ndammendment #4thammendment #love #life #God #Jesus #humans #souls #stocholmsyndrome #$5kperpersonpermonth #cutthecheck #reperationsforall #nomoreslavery #nomorewar #blacklivesmatter #alllivesmatterwhenblacklives #endmassencarceration #endprivateprisons #endprisonprofitsonhumanabuse #fixthecourts #judgesarenotgod #thegovernmentisnotgod #governmentforthepeoplebythepeople https://www.instagram.com/p/CKloLYDgfGJ/?igshid=1n2mxne766x4b