This is Election related if we end up in the US Supreme Court

[VTGold]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gifts31dec31,0,69310.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Clarence Thomas' Acceptance of Gifts Tops Justices

(snip)
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts since joining the Supreme Court....


(snip)
"Why would someone do that -- give a gift to Clarence Thomas? Unless they are family members or really close friends, the only reason to give gifts is to influence the judge," said Mark I. Harrison, a Phoenix lawyer who heads the ABA's Commission on the Model Code of Judicial Conduct. "And we think it is not helpful to have judges accepting gifts for no apparent reason."

"The public has to wonder when a justice accepts lavish gifts," said Northwestern University law professor Steven Lubet, a legal ethics expert. "The rich and powerful have a different set of economic interests than other people, and they can afford to give lavish gifts."

Thomas, through a court spokeswoman, declined to comment when asked in writing why he deemed it appropriate to accept some of the larger gifts. But a former clerk to Thomas defended the practice.

"I don't see anything wrong in this. I don't see why it is inappropriate to get gifts from friends," said John C. Yoo, now a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley. "This reflects a bizarre effort to over-ethicize everyday life. If one of these people were to appear before the Supreme Court, Justice Thomas would recuse himself. So I don't see the problem."

Despite the open-ended rules, most of the other Supreme Court justices reported accepting only items of lesser value, or token gifts for speaking at formal events, or nothing at all.

The Los Angeles Times reviewed the disclosures of all nine justices for the years 1998 through 2003, the only period of time for which disclosure forms were still on file at the court. They reported receiving cash, which they usually gave to charity, but kept or used various valuable items, mementos and club memberships.

In that six-year period, Thomas accepted $42,200 in gifts, making him easily the top recipient.

Next was Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who accepted $5,825 in gifts, mostly small crystal figurines and other items. She also reported an $18,000 award in 2003 from the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, but listed it as income. The money was for the society's Benjamin Franklin Award for Distinguished Public Service. She gave other cash awards to charity.

Third was Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who accepted a $5,000-award from Fordham University -- the only gift he reported for the six-year period.


more:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gifts31dec31,0,69310.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[babylonsister]

1. I thought they were above reproach. n/t

[VTGold]

4. Not Clarence - he's been demoted to "disgrace" .... n/t

[TexasLawyer]

7. Something I learned in law school...

The Supreme Court is not final because it is supreme. It is supreme because it is final.

[purduejake]

2. Yea, he'd recuse himself just like the justice who went hunting...

with Cheney. Oh nevermind.

[bobbieinok]

3. isn't Yoo one of the lawyers who wrote memos defending torture????

didn't realize he'd been a clerk for Thomas.....hmmmmmmmm

. But a former clerk to Thomas defended the practice.

"I don't see anything wrong in this. I don't see why it is inappropriate to get gifts from friends," said John C. Yoo, now a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley. "This reflects a bizarre effort to over-ethicize everyday life. If one of these people were to appear before the Supreme Court, Justice Thomas would recuse himself. So I don't see the problem."

[purduejake]

5. First they bitch about moral decay and then turn around accusing...

people of over-ethicizing everyday life. I'm confused.

[pbartch]

6. With this $42,200 in gifts......DID HE ADD THIS TO HIS INCOME TAXES??

If not.......could "Old Clarence" be doing something illegal? We should sic the IRS on him!!!!!!!!!!

[unblock]

9. gifts are not taxable

unless you receive more than $10,000 from one individual in a single year.

you could receive $10,000 from each of 100 "friends", a total of $1,000,000 in a single year, tax-free.

[bluedeminredstate]

8. Giving gifts to Supreme Court Justices

is so wrong I don't even know where to begin, just think of the implications, the appearance of impropriety. The fact that the Supremes can decide whether to keep the money or give it away is so sleazy. If money has to be involved (rolling eyes) it should be decided ahead of time what charity it will go to. Otherwise they're just moonlighting for a few extra bucks. Sickening! The Supreme Court is supposed to be above this sort of hucksterism.
My Dad is a retired state Superior Court judge and if they had ever so much as accepted a light bulb as a gift they'd be hauled before the judicial ethics panel to explain themselves before being booted.

:spank:

[Patsy Stone]

10. You mean

not one of you thought to send the man a nice Rolex???

What is with kids today? He was on MY Christmas list. Why wasn't he on yours?

Oh these people! Will they never cease their endless quest for Global Domination?

[purduejake]

11. I would send a Rolex...

if I thought it would benefit me in some way.