Scalia Lives High On the Hog

[No Exit]

EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Ethics Problem?What Was Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Doing on Day of Supreme Court Swearing-In?
In a "Nightline" exclusive, ABC News chief correspondent Brian Ross investigates why Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia missed John Roberts' swearing-in ceremony as chief justice to play tennis. (ABC News)
By BRIAN ROSS

Jan. 23, 2006 — At the historic swearing-in of John Roberts as the 17th chief justice of the United States last September, every member of the Supreme Court, except Antonin Scalia, was in attendance. ABC News has learned that Scalia instead was on the tennis court at one of the country's top resorts, the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bachelor Gulch, Colo., during a trip to a legal seminar sponsored by the Federalist Society.

Not only did Scalia's absence appear to be a snub of the new chief justice, but according to some legal ethics experts, it also raised questions about the propriety of what critics call judicial junkets.

"It's unfortunate of course that what kept him from the swearing-in was an activity that is itself of dubious ethical propriety," said Stephen Gillers, a New York University law professor, who is a recognized scholar on legal ethics.


Scalia Mum

Scalia spent two nights at the luxury resort lecturing at the legal seminar where ABC News also found him on the tennis court, heading out for a fly-fishing expedition, and socializing with members of the Federalist Society, the conservative activist group that paid for the expenses of his trip.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Investigation/story?id=1534260

[SteppingRazor]

1. Scalia involved in recreational activities of a dubious ethical nature?

Why, I never would have thought it! He would never, ever, EVER do something like, say, oh, I dunno... go on a hunting trip with a vice president while currently involved in a hearing that VP was a party to, the whole thing paid for by a lobbyist who also had an interest in the court's decision ... would he?

[AtomicKitten]

2. So, the Supremes are whores too.

What a surprise.

[No Exit]

3. I'm sick of this little sleazeball Scalia, and all his fancy trips

such as his silk-stocking "hunting" trips with f'ing Cheney.

He ignores judicial ethics. His ass needs to be thrown off the Supreme Court--AFTER the current tin-pot dictator leaves the White House.

[gratuitous]

6. Didn't Jack and Ennis go hunting in Brokeback Mountain?

Apropos of nothing; I just saw the movie over the weekend, and really enjoyed it.

That is all.

Seriously.

No other message to be gleaned from an innocent question.

[No Exit]

7. Er... I think that was on Kickback Mountain...

and there was something about Burt Reynolds shooting a guy with a bow and arrow. It was all hushed up.:)

[napi21]

4. Yep, I watched that last night. I was surprised that there are NO

rules for any SCOTUS! I recall the reporter describing, and showing receipts for, many gifts to the justices. $1,200 set of tires is the only one I remember, mainly because I though it was such a strange gift.

I think I remember there was a SCOTUS who was impeached, or at least came close. I wonder now what in the world he could have done if there are NO RULES?

[Turbineguy]

5. Their ethics should be such

that rules are superfluous.