US Supreme Court corruption: From Beyonce tickets to Bali hotel stays
3 Min Read
US Supreme Court justices are receiving "gifts" as they lack any oversight regarding recusal from cases that might have a conflict of interest.
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Members of the Supreme Court sit for a new group portrait following the addition of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, the United States, October 7, 2022. (AP)
In their 2023 annual financial disclosure forms, US Supreme Court justices revealed a range of gifts and substantial earnings, including luxurious accommodations and significant book deals they got their hands on simply due to their senior positions.
Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas reported revising his 2019 financial form to include previously undisclosed "food and lodging" received at a Bali hotel and a California club. Thomas has faced scrutiny for not reporting gifts from businessman and Republican donor Harlan Crow in the past.
Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reported receiving four Beyoncé concert tickets valued at $3,711.84 and artwork for her chambers worth $12,500.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, who has been criticized for his involvement in cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riot, was granted a 90-day extension for his financial filing.
Many justices have sought book deals as a "gift", which is arguably far more lucrative than mere trips and concert tickets. Jackson reported an advance of $893,750 for her forthcoming memoir "Lovely One," set to be released in September.
Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh listed $340,000 in book royalties from Javelin Group and Regnery Publishing, and, according to Axios, he is expected to publish a memoir in the next few years.
Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch reported $250,000 in royalties, while liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor disclosed nearly $87,000.
These book deals supplement their judicial salaries, which in 2023 are $298,500 for the eight associate justices and $312,200 for Chief Justice John Roberts.
Despite Thomas' security concerns following a leak of the court's decision to overturn the constitutional right to abortion, he reported no trips in 2023. In contrast, his 2022 disclosures included travels to Dallas, Texas, and the Adirondack Mountains in New York.
Alito, a member of the court's conservative majority, is embroiled in an ethics controversy after refusing to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election and the Capitol riot. He defended the presence of flags associated with Trump's "Stop the Steal" movement at his homes, stating they were flown by his wife, who was unaware of their significance.
The justices' financial disclosures come after they adopted in November their first code of conduct, which was criticized as insufficient when it comes to promoting transparency, as ultimately, the judges themselves get to decide whether they are recused from cases with no overhead authority or enforcement mechanism.
