Earlier this month, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas headlined a
fundraiser for the Federalist Society - a conservative think tank that
is connected to the most powerful conservatives in Washington.
By helping to raise funds for the Federalist Society, Justice Thomas is
in clear violation of Canon 4C of the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges,
which bars federal judges from using the prestige of their judicial
office for fundraising purposes and specifically states that 'a judge
may not be a speaker, a guest of honor, or featured on the program' of a
fundraising event.
While the Supreme Court has exempted itself from the code, Chief Justice
Roberts has said that the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges "plays the
same role for the Supreme Court as it does for other federal judges."
That's why I launched a campaign calling on Supreme Court Chief Justice
John Roberts to hold Justice Thomas accountable:
We respectfully urge you to issue a letter of reprimand for Justice
Thomas and to publish an official court policy on the ethics issue
concerning Justice Thomas' decision to agree to headline a political
fund raising dinner. To increase transparency and accountability in the
activities of the Supreme Court justices, we also urge the Supreme Court
to adopt its own code of conduct that includes the five canons of the
Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges.
Tell Chief Justice Roberts: Hold Justice Thomas accountable for defying
the Code Conduct for United States Judges.
In recent years, some members of the Supreme Court have repeatedly
engaged in ethically dubious conduct that endangers the neutrality and
transparency of the court. In 2012, Justice Antonin Scalia accepted an
all-expenses-paid trip to meet with the shadowy conservative group
Friends of Abe, which has been described as 'the most important source
of underground political activism in Hollywood today.'
Previously, Justices Scalia and Thomas have attended exclusive meetings
organized by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, longtime
financial supporters of conservative political causes. Finally, between
1997 and 2007, Justice Thomas repeatedly failed to disclose at least
$1.6 million in income received by his wife from her employers -
including some employers that have petitioned the Supreme Court.
The binding Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges currently applies to all
United States judges except the nine members of the Supreme Court. This
code provides a clear explanation of proper judicial behavior and is
used to ensure that judges are held accountable for any unethical
action. For example, in 2009 the Code of Conduct was used to force the
recusal of Judge Loren Smith from a case involving big oil companies
after it was discovered that his wife owned shares of stock in one of
the oil companies involved in the case.
It is vital that Justice Thomas be held accountable for defying the Code
of Conduct, and that Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts formally
applies the Code of Conduct to the Supreme Court today.
http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/hold-justice-clarence-thomas-accountable-for-defying-the-code-of-conduct-for-us-judges?akid=9522.3510581.xWUYyx&rd=1&suppress_one_click=true&t=3
is connected to the most powerful conservatives in Washington.
in clear violation of Canon 4C of the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges,
which bars federal judges from using the prestige of their judicial
office for fundraising purposes and specifically states that 'a judge
may not be a speaker, a guest of honor, or featured on the program' of a
fundraising event.
Roberts has said that the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges "plays the
same role for the Supreme Court as it does for other federal judges."
That's why I launched a campaign calling on Supreme Court Chief Justice
John Roberts to hold Justice Thomas accountable:
Thomas and to publish an official court policy on the ethics issue
concerning Justice Thomas' decision to agree to headline a political
fund raising dinner. To increase transparency and accountability in the
activities of the Supreme Court justices, we also urge the Supreme Court
to adopt its own code of conduct that includes the five canons of the
Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges.
the Code Conduct for United States Judges.
engaged in ethically dubious conduct that endangers the neutrality and
transparency of the court. In 2012, Justice Antonin Scalia accepted an
all-expenses-paid trip to meet with the shadowy conservative group
Friends of Abe, which has been described as 'the most important source
of underground political activism in Hollywood today.'
organized by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, longtime
financial supporters of conservative political causes. Finally, between
1997 and 2007, Justice Thomas repeatedly failed to disclose at least
$1.6 million in income received by his wife from her employers -
including some employers that have petitioned the Supreme Court.
United States judges except the nine members of the Supreme Court. This
code provides a clear explanation of proper judicial behavior and is
used to ensure that judges are held accountable for any unethical
action. For example, in 2009 the Code of Conduct was used to force the
recusal of Judge Loren Smith from a case involving big oil companies
after it was discovered that his wife owned shares of stock in one of
the oil companies involved in the case.
of Conduct, and that Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts formally
applies the Code of Conduct to the Supreme Court today.
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