Hours after deciding to hear Health Care case, 3 justices attend fundraiser for Federalist Society

[deminks]

http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/latest-national/28811-hours-after-considering-challenges-to-health-care-reform-supreme-court-justices-are-honored-at-fundraiser-sponsored-by-law-firms-representing-reform-opponents-.html

WASHINGTON--(ENEWSPF)--November 14 - Hours after considering whether to hear challenges to national health care reform, Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia were honored Thursday at a fundraiser sponsored in part by law firms engaged in the litigation. This is an apparent breach of ethical standards that apply to every other federal judge.

That morning, all nine justices met to review appeals from lower federal courts. Their agenda included a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, which the court announced today it would hear this term.

A few hours later, Scalia and Thomas were honorees and speakers at an annual fundraising dinner for the Federalist Society, which describes itself as “conservatives and libertarians interested” in the law.

Donors for the event included corporations like the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which has a critical stake in the outcome of the health care litigation, as well as lawyers and law firms directly involved in bringing suits challenging the law.


Edited to add:

Three Justices - Sam Alito (Scalito) was also in attendance.

[notadmblnd]

1. Al Sharpton talking about it now.

Top lawyer against health care law sitting at a table between Thomas and Scalia's tables at the Federalist Society event.

[deminks]

3. Paul Clement.

from the op:

(snip)

Paul Clement, counsel for parties in the 11th Circuit case that challenged the law, sat at a table sandwiched between Scalia and Thomas, according to the program. His law firm, Bancroft PLLC, is listed as a “silver” sponsor of the dinner.

(snip)

[girl gone mad]

2. I hope they kill the mandate.

Can't imagine living in a country where, by existence, I'm legally obligated to purchase a defective private product.

[Thinkingabout]

21. Imagine how the insured must pay for the non insured

Health care is being paid by the ones who have insurance to cover those who do not have insurance. Think that is fair. Also if the money going to insurance CEOs does nothing to enhance our health care. Canada has about 3 workers doing what takes 600 to do in the USA. Our drs go through years of training and CEO gets the big bucks. This current system is rotten to the core.

[girl gone mad]

23. It doesn't work that way, actually.

Most uncompensated health care is given to people with insurance.

[TheWraith]

4. You know, I'm not a legal expert, but I'm pretty sure that that's a conflict of interest.

In the same way that Olympus Mons is a volcano.

[Recursion]

11. Nope. FS is not a party to the case.

Though I'm sure they filed an amicus brief.

[TheWraith]

17. I was more thinking about them rubbing elbows with the lawyers for the plaintiff. nt

[Recursion]

18. I saw no indication the firms were present; maybe I misread

I thought it just said they donated to the foundation that sponsored the event (along, incidentally, with nearly every other K street law firm).

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Recursion]

12. Because it's not illegal or even improper, maybe? (nt)

[Autumn]

19. Neither is tweeting pictures of yourself to someone

but that didn't stop the Democrats from being sanctimonious and calling for his resignation. Supreme court whores who meet with people involved in a case they are going to decide is a hell of a lot worse.

[teddy51]

6. This country is heading into the toilet faster than one can keep up with.

Geez, talk about a blatant conflict of interest in the highest court in the land no less. Roberts should force these people to recuse themselves.

[EFerrari]

7. We're already there, no question. nt

[deminks]

8. Facebook also listed as a Silver Sponsor of the dinner, btw.

on the dinner program linked in the OP.

[robinlynne]

10. oh my. facebook sponsoring the federalist society.

[robinlynne]

9. Make the 3 of them recuse themselves right fucking NOW! Can't the lawyer request that

as a motion right now?

[Recursion]

14. Why? The Federalist Society is not a party to the lawsuit

It's not as if the FS magically made these 3 guys conservative; we know how they're going to vote anyways.

[robinlynne]

22. but the healthcare companies are.

[Sal Minella]

13. I'm not at all sure that these two guys are capable of understanding

that this behavior is immoral and unethical.

Reaching back into my Catholic "instruction" period, I believe Scalia and Thomas may have what the Church calls "invincible ignorance" -- i.e. no matter how clearly something is explained to them, they lack the capacity to comprehend.

[Recursion]

15. Apparently I suffer from their problem. What's unethical about attending a fundraiser...

...for a group that's not a party to the case?

[Sal Minella]

20. If you're trying to be funny, it's not working.

If you're not trying to be funny, you might try reading the OP (just for informational purposes).

[whistler162]

25. What you don't belong to the panic at everything wing of the

Democratic Party!

[Old and In the Way]

16. I think this is what Orrin Hatch means by "activist judge".

Next time a liberal/progressive judge is nominated, I sure hope Senate Democrats remind Hatch of his blatant hypocrisy and selective use of the phrase.

[deminks]

24. kick for the morning.

[progressoid]

26. Grrr.

This is not good for my blood pressure. Or the country.