this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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Politics

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170
Supreme Court Rebuffed Democrats’ Call for Thomas Probe With Just One Sentence (truthout.org)
submitted 1 year ago by trashhalo@beehaw.org to c/politics@beehaw.org
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Roberts didn’t even personally address the lawmakers. Supreme Court Legal Counsel Ethan Torrey, writing on behalf of Roberts, replied instead, saying simply that, “The Chief Justice has asked me to acknowledge your letter dated June 27, 2023, and to thank you very much for bringing your concerns about these important matters to his attention.”

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[–] Arotrios@kbin.social 67 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and legal experts have since called for Roberts to face a subpoena that would force him to answer for Supreme Court corruption.

Stop talking about it and do it. Each day the issue goes unaddressed, the public's confidence in the court decays. We're at the point where in a normal political arena, there would already be an impeachment investigation in play. Roberts is betting on either Trump winning or having a divided legislature in 2024 so that everything can be swept under the rug.

[–] appel@lemmy.ml 27 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Dems are currently in the minority in an extremely partisan House, unfortunately, so AOC can't do much other than applying public pressure.

ETA: vote.

[–] Rapidcreek@reddthat.com 5 points 1 year ago

The House can't do much in any case. The real power here is with the Judiciary Committee in the Senate. Everything flows through them as far as the court goes. Remember, there is a very small majority in the Senate and it is reflected in Committee membership.

[–] poprocks@beehaw.org 37 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Fuck this SCOTUS. No one is above the law. They need to answer for their crimes and be held accountable. No one should be guaranteed a job for life either.

[–] Boddhisatva@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

No one is above the law.

Sadly, the evidence appears to suggest otherwise. Until the Democrats and Republicans in Congress get together and pass laws to enforce ethics rules on the SCOTUS, as they have with all other federal courts, then the members of SCOTUS are indeed above the law.

[–] reverendsteveii@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago

There are an awful lot of people in America who are above the law. We get to watch them break the law on TV, then they dare us to try to hold them accountable.

[–] fades@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

no one is above the law

Grow up or open your eyes bud, there’s a two-tiered system or justice and those in that upper tier are lost certainly above the law

[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 33 points 1 year ago (3 children)

there was a time when congress would have acted. where the fuck are they?

[–] John_Coomsumer@beehaw.org 28 points 1 year ago

Extreme gridlock and, sadly, bigger fish to fry with a complete Inability to pass core-function bills like budgets due to that gridlock. Why gridlock? Ask McConnell and McCarthy

[–] Moobythegoldensock@lemm.ee 13 points 1 year ago

The Republicans in Congress have no interest in cooperating.

[–] circularfish@beehaw.org 29 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I wonder if Congress can withhold SCOTUS operational funding until something is done? Sure, the justices can take expensive vacations funded by billionaires, but if that is the way it is gonna be, they can get used to hearing cases in a Publix parking lot.

Power of the purse belongs to Congress and this is all about respecting separation of powers, right?

[–] Boddhisatva@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I wonder if Congress can withhold SCOTUS operational funding until something is done?

They could do a hell of a lot more than that. The Constitution defines the SCOTUS and states:

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

Congress has the power to modify the powers of the Supreme court. They could, if they had the will, take away the vast majority of the power of SCOTUS. Congress could add exceptions to the SCOTUS' appellate powers for all matters except matters "affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party." With the President's assistance, Congress could even expand the court and alter the current majority.

They could do all this, but they won't, and for the same reason they won't impeach the blatantly ethically bereft members of the court. Because the Republicans are benefiting from the status quo and they will never allow the Democrats to change it as long as they have more than 40 seats in the Senate and a majority in the House.

[–] shiveyarbles@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

Well we know that Thomas favorite pastime is hanging out in Walmart parking lots so he may enjoy that.

[–] mookulator@mander.xyz 27 points 1 year ago

Lifetime appointees with no accountability reject call for accountability. Shocking

[–] shiveyarbles@beehaw.org 10 points 1 year ago

What's really infuriating is they always have this shit eating, condescending grin. They completely lack any humility.

[–] reverendsteveii@beehaw.org 6 points 1 year ago

fucking corrupt coward is begging someone to hold him accountable