Views of SCOTUS’ credibility remain polarized ahead of major June rulings

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE SUPREME COURT IS EXPECTED TO RULE ON SEVERAL HISTORIC CASES THIS MONTH.

CASES THAT COULD SEE SOME CHARGES AGAINST TRUMP DROPPED BASED ON PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY.

CASES THAT COULD REIGN IN ACCESS TO THE NATION’S MOST POPULAR ABORTION PILL..

AND CASES THAT COULD UPEND SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES’ POWERS TO CENSOR USER CONTENT.

BIG DECISIONS EXPECTED FROM THE HIGH COURT WITH A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY –

CURRENTLY ENCIRCLED BY CONTROVERSY.

VIEWS OF THE SUPREME COURT ARE POLARIZED IN THE U-S–

DEMOCRATS SCRUTINIZED THE JUSTICES OVER ETHICAL CONCERNS.

WHILE MANY REPUBLICANS SAY THE SCRUTINY IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED –

LOOKING TO DISCREDIT THE HIGH COURT AHEAD OF POTENTIALLY MONUMENTAL RULINGS.

THE ETHICAL CONCERNS RAISED –

INITIALLY LARGELY REVOLVED AROUND CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS.

IN NEWLY FILED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES –

THOMAS **AMENDED PREVIOUS YEARS’ FILINGS TO INCLUDE VACATIONS PAID FOR BY REPUBLICAN BILLIONAIRE “HARLAN CROW.”

THE TRIPS –

RAISED QUESTIONS OVER THOMAS’ IMPARTIALITY.

CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO ALSO HAS A WEALTHY REPUBLICAN FRIEND IN BILLIONAIRE PAUL SINGER – WHOM ALITO ALSO HAS ACCEPTED GIFTS FROM.

THESE STORIES SPARKED NATIONWIDE INTEREST IN THE PERSONAL LIVES OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES –

THAT HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE HEADLINES LEADING UP TO THEIR SUMMER RECESS.

RECENTLY IT WAS JUSTICE ALITO IN THE SPOTLIGHT –

OVER CONTROVERSIAL FLAGS FLOWN OUTSIDE HIS HOMES – PURPORTEDLY TIED TO THE JANUARY 6 RIOTS AND  REPUBLICAN MOVEMENTS.

THERE WERE CALLS FROM DEMOCRATS FOR ALITO TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM CERTAIN HIGHLY-POLITICIZED CASES –

LIKE CASES INVOLVING TRUMP. AND JANUARY SIXTH –

DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FLAGS FLOWN.

REPUBLICANS DISMISSED THE CALLS FOR RECUSAL AS POLITICAL ATTACKS ON THE COURT’S REPUTATION.

WHILE QUESTIONING THE ETHICS OF THE HIGH COURT IS A POLITICIZED ISSUE –

IT ISN’T JUST CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES WHO FACE CONTROVERSY OVER THEIR TIME SPENT OUTSIDE THE COURT.

LIBERAL JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR WAS ACCUSED OF USING HER POSITION AND STAFF TO GET MORE FAVORABLE BOOK DEALS – ADDING UP TO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

LIBERAL JUSTICE KETANJI JACKSON REPORTED IN THE MOST RECENT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES RECEIVING FREE CONCERT TICKETS FROM BEYONCE. FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS FROM OPRAH.

AND A BOOK ADVANCE WORTH NEARLY A MILLION BUCKS.

CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES BRETT KAVANAUGH AND NEIL GORSUCH ALSO REPORTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN BOOK ROYALTIES.

FROM LUXURIOUS TRIPS. CONTROVERSIAL FLAGS. TO MAJOR PAYOUTS FROM BOOK DEALS.

ALL OF THESE EXAMPLES –

ARE **NOT VIOLATIONS OF ANY RULES –

AS THERE IS NO “SCOTUS CODE OF CONDUCT”.

THE MICROSCOPE OVER THE JUSTICES’ PERSONAL LIVES PROMPTED AN INVESTIGATION FROM THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE REGARDING ETHICS –

AND WHETHER REFORM AND A RULEBOOK IS NEEDED.

THE COMMITTEE ASKED CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS TO SPEAK WITH SENATORS.

HE DECLINED.

AND DEMOCRATS HAVE SO FAR – DECIDED NOT TO SUBPOENA HIM OVER JUDICIAL ETHICS REFORM.

BUT WITH JUNE BEING THE HIGH COURT’S BUSIEST MONTH BEFORE RECESS –

THE COURT’S INTEGRITY HAS BECOME FRONT AND CENTER AHEAD OF ITS RULINGS THAT COULD HAVE A WIDE-RANGE IMPACT AND WIDE-RANGE REACTION.