THE SUPREME COURT…NOT SO SUPREME !
From Webster’s New World Dictionary…Third College Edition…supreme:
(1) highest in rank, power, authority, etc.; dominant. TRUE.
(2) highest in quality, achievement, performance, etc.; most excellent. FALSE.
(3) highest in degree; utmost. TRUE.
(4) final; ultimate. TRUE.
RECENT CONTROVERSIES
* The Senate Judiciary Committee, on May 2, 2023, considered the question whether the Supreme Court should impose a binding code of ethics-at a hearing the court’s justices had declined to attend-as a string of recent ethical issues at the court have ramped up lawmaker’s efforts to institute reforms.
* Justice Clarence Thomas’ dealings with GOP mega-doner Harlan Crow, whom Thomas has reportedly accepted gifts of luxury travel from, for years, without disclosing it as federal law requires.
* Crow also purchased real estate in Savannah, Georgia, from Thomas in 2014-including the home where the Justice’s mother reportedly still lives-ProPublica reported, which was also not disclosed as required.
* Thomas has also drawn significant controversy over his wife Ginni Thomas’ right-wing activism, particularly as she supported efforts to overturn the 2020 election as Thomas was hearing cases on it, and the justice has been criticized for failing to recuse himself in a case concerning documents being turned over to the House January 6 Committee.
* Justice Neal Gorsuch then came under fire as Politico reported he sold real estate to the head of a law firm with business before the the court, in a transaction that took place days after Gorsuch was sworn in as a justice.
* Roberts has also come under scrutiny in light of reports that his wife earned more than $10 million in commissions as part of her work with law firms, some of which had cases before the Supreme Court.
* Justice Samuel Alito came under scrutiny after the New York Times reported a conservative activist knew the ruling in 2014’s Burwell v Hobby Lobby after donors of his had dinner with the justice, which sparked a separate hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
* Conservative – leaning justices including Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh have also raised eyebrows for attending events and socializing with right-wing politicians and figures, with Gorsuch appearing last year at a closed-press event for the Federalist Society alongside GOP politicians, and Kavanaugh attending a holiday party hosted by the head of the Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC).
* Right now the Supreme Court is the only court at the federal judiciary that doesn’t follow a code of conduct or have one that’s binding on it.
* Until there is an honest ethics process at the Supreme Court, these messes will continue. The court has conclusively proven that it cannot police itself. It has become a political football in the political parties’ struggle for control of the democratic process!
NO COMMON SENSE
ANALYZE THE EXAMPLE
* Which supports and barriers were in play?
* What were the dynamics?
* Who, or what, won the Tug-Of-War?
* Discuss the outcome with your friends and family.
* Use Post #4 as a reference for the dynamics, and the relationships, between supports and barriers.