Real ethical issues versus fake ones

 I've been posting a bunch about the ethical issues popping up with the Supreme Court Justices recently.  From Ginni Thomas to Harlan Crow and so on.  Some of these issues are real concerns, especially Ginni Thomas' role in January 6.  

One issue, though, that I expressed skepticism about last week was Chief Justice Roberts' wife being employed as a legal recruiter.  The more I think about it, the more I don't get the uproar.  She is a lawyer who left her law job because she did not want the appearance of impropriety.  And now she is working as a legal recruiter.  She should not have to step away from her job. 

Here are two articles saying Jane Roberts' job is a nothingburger (Above the Law and Bloomberg).

Interested in your thoughts.

"Supremely Arrogant"

That's the title of Maureen Dowd's NYT op-ed on the Supreme Court.  From the conclusion:

John Roberts cannot accept that these justices are incapable of policing themselves. Despite all the slime around him, he refused to testify before Congress about a court that blithely disdains ethics.

One reason may be, as The Times reported, that the chief justice’s own wife, Jane, has made millions of dollars as a legal recruiter, placing lawyers at firms with business before the Supreme Court.

Even though I’ve been writing since Bush v. Gore that the court is full of hacks and the bloom is off the robes, it is still disorienting to see the murk of this Supreme Court.

 

Gillum Found Not Guilty

 

By John R. Byrne

Not a trial in the Southern District of Florida but a trial with Southern District of Florida ties. Our own David Markus and Margot Moss obtained a "not guilty" verdict on the charge of lying to the FBI for the former gubernatorial candidate. The jury hung on the other 18 counts, but apparently were 10-2 in favor of acquittal on those. Prosecutors say they'll retry Gillum. Lot of national press coverage on this one.

Good luck to the Heat (Saturday @3:30) and Panthers (Sunday @6:30) this weekend.

Breaking -- Biden to nominate 3 for district judgeships

I have it from multiple sources that President Biden has cut a deal with Senators Rubio and Scott to nominate Jackie Becerra, Melissa Damian, and David Leibowitz for the 3 open district slots.  Three great choices.  More on this later, but wanted to get this up.

May the Fourth be with you.

Always.

 

If you are looking for some legal news, check out this new story from ProPublica about Harlan Crow paying for the private school tuition of a boy that Justice Thomas raised as his son.