“Friends of the Court”

ProPublica’s series on the various perks and privileges accepted by Supreme Court members exposed a glaring hole in the framework of our justice system: Who, and what, keeps our legal standard-bearers in check?

For Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, the answer, at least for now, is the journalists of ProPublica. The team’s reporting brought to light a laundry list of ethically questionable favors the two have accepted throughout their respective tenures, catapulting the hazy and undefined concept of Supreme Court governance into the national discourse.

The reporting found that Thomas did not disclose many luxury trips that were paid for by billionaire Harlan Crow. The real estate mogul was featured prominently in many of Thomas’ unreported activities, including Crow paying tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew. Crow also purchased property Thomas co-owned with his mother and late brother. Additionally, Thomas hosted undisclosed networking events for donors who would later bring cases in front of the court. ProPublica also brought to light Alito’s private jet flights with hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, who has had cases before the Supreme Court, including one in 2014 from which Alito did not recuse himself.

ProPublica highlighted the problems that occur when the judicial branch is free from codified oversight. The extent to which this happened within the Supreme Court raises not only eyebrows, but questions. What could arise when a small group of wealthy individuals seeks to influence, under the guise of friendship, those who should be beyond reproach?

ProPublica’s coverage elicited immediate response. The justices deflected the severity of their entanglements, issuing vague statements and otherwise declining to comment. Members of Congress called for an ethics reform of the Court and introduced multiple bills. The court itself adopted a code of conduct for the first time in its 234-year history.

With this landmark series, ProPublica embodied the press’s mission to serve as democracy’s watchdog.

Article by: Leyla Shokoohe