Where the real blame lies for the collapsing Supreme Court
The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has been under fire for refusing to end the so-called Blue Slip rule while Senator Diane Feinstein recovers from Shingles, allowing Republicans to delay or veto confirmation of President Biden’s district court judge nominees.
On the other hand, Durbin is pushing for a U.S. Supreme Court code of ethics, inviting Chief Justice Roberts, or a designated proxy, to testify, in what is becoming a standoff between the legislative and judicial branches of government. Durbin hoped the hearing would include testimony by a Supreme Court official about luxury gifts and real estate transactions that went unreported by Clarence Thomas. But Roberts refused.
Along with Roberts’ letter rejecting the invitation was a letter signed by all nine justices rejecting a mandatory code of ethics. The justices claim they don’t need a code of ethics because they rely on each other and other sources for ethical guidance. That’s what Clarence Thomas claimed to have done, saying he asked unnamed colleagues for guidance on the undeclared gifts. One speculation for why the liberal justices would sign such a letter is that it opens SCOTUS to interference by the Republican-led House, as they have with NY AG Bragg’s investigation.
The U.S. Supreme Court needs to be reformed. Federalist Society right-wing justices have done crippling damage to our Constitutional rights. In 2003, District of Columbia v. Heller hijacked the 2nd Amendment turning gun ownership from “Militia Only” to an “individual’s right.” In 2013, Shelby County v. Holder gutted voting rights, and Citizens United v. FEC allowed dark money into our elections. In 2022, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ended Roe v. Wade. And they’re not done, with more destruction looming in the next session.
Just as Leonard Leo spent decades infiltrating the unelected SCOTUS to destroy our democracy, it will take a long time to rebalance SCOTUS. Joyce Vance said, “If Trump forces us to abandon democratic principles…he’s won.” Democrats are upholding democracy by refusing to abandon democratic principles. Last week Senator Schumer said he hopes Feinstein will return this week. Durbin is championing a Supreme Court code of ethics. We must stop misjudging our experienced Democratic leaders, and we must VOTE Republicans out.
Chicago native Lorraine Evanoff earned her degree in French from DePaul University then became a Certified Financial Manager. She worked as a finance exec in film production for seven years in Paris, then in Silicon Valley during the dot-com era, and later for various Hollywood production companies, notably as CFO of National Lampoon. She is currently living in Los Angeles with her husband.