Detroit Today: What Justice Clarence Thomas’ ethics violations say about the Supreme Court

Public opinion surveys shows that Americans lack confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court — hitting a three-decade low since it overturned constitutional protections for abortion in the Dobbs decision. The recent revelation of Justice Clarence Thomas’ failure to disclose gifts he received from Harlan Crow, a billionaire conservative donor, likely won’t help that outlook.

The matter compounds existing concerns over Thomas’ impartiality. His wife, Ginni Thomas, attended Trump’s rally prior to the January 6th insurrection attempt and criticized the House committee investigation into that day.

“I don’t care how close the personal friend is. If they fly you on their jet, or they take you on their yacht, it must be disclosed.” — Richard Painter, University of Minnesota

Listen: What Justice Clarence Thomas’ ethics violations say about the U.S. Supreme Court.

Guests

Joan Biskupic is a full-time CNN legal analyst and author. Her recent book is titled “Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court’s drive to the right and its historic consequences.”

Biskupic says Chief Justice John Roberts is one of the central figures in the book.

“Nine Black Robes really looks at what has happened to his leadership,” says Biskupic, “and how a man who was known to be so strategic tactical and winning, as he was, is now on the defensive.”

Richard Painter is a law Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. He also served as chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration.

Painter says Thomas’s clear violation of the Ethics in Government Act calls into question his ability to serve on the Supreme Court.

“If the justice is going to interpret federal statutes, in such a convoluted manner, when they apply to himself,” says Painter, “I question whether he is able to interpret those statutes, and the United States Constitution in cases that are binding on the rest of the American people.”