46 Comments

Isn't this what happened to the judiciary in Hitler's Germany? Nothing the 3rd Reich did was illegal or immoral according to these judges. It all began with a dinner party.....

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This article is right on time as I'm part of a group that has a meeting with senator Cardin about the SCERT bill next week! I urge other readers to contact your senators. There is not much time to get this done.

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Correction: the meeting is with aides -- not with Cardin himself. Sorry.

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founding

I am so grateful that I have two Senators I can always count on: Cory Booker and Bob Menendez.

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I have contacted my senators on many issues. Always get a response from Rubio detailing his disagreement w me, and the only response, if any, I get from Rick Scott is a brief boilerplate that says nothing if essence

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founding

Good for you for making the attempt. At least, you may be able to dialogue with Rubio. Wondering if you quote from Judd's pieces. Sorry they aren't more simpatico.

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I draw from as many resources as possible, including Judd. My senators sadly don’t represent me.

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*of essence. I don’t bother anymore.

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You’ve got mine covered.

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I wish this type of investigative reporting had a larger and louder audience

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We would have much better outcomes voting-wise and a much better informed citizenry and an improved society overall, in my opinion.

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founding

Share with friends or relatives or people you think will appreciate.

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Justice Kegstand is a unfit pig, his confirmation will be remembered as the moment the Republican Senate Caucus finally disgraced itself beyond redemption. It should come as no surprise that he would want to wallow around in the cesspool with that list of fascists, racists and clowns. Maybe it's time for the Senate Judiciary Committee to vet Kav's financial entanglements and find out who paid off his gambling debts while buying him a mansion.

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Thank you, Judd. This is important information for the public to know. I will contact my Senators to support the legislation you mention.m

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I'll do the same! Many thanks for laying this out so clearly, Judd. The Supremes are way out of control.

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Thanks for this work. Clearly needed.

Along with this, what about a bill clarifying the pardon power of the president. Time to answer some questions like, "can the president pardon himself?" Can the president pre-pardon someone for future crimes or ones that have not yet been prosecuted? I'm sure there are many more questions like these.

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Maybe this leaked item reveals something about who is directly or indirectly behind Kavanaugh’s debt reduction and serves as a reminder to him that his payment is coming due with the independent state legislature case.

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Interestingly, some experts think Democrats will gain more seats in the House if strong ISL is adopted by SCOTUS. That doesn't make it a good idea, but it may cause the "justices" to temper their enthusiasm. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/01/gop-argument-redistricting-backfire/

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Independent state legislatures will insure that no one but members of their party will ever be elected to a public office and right now, the GOPers have more conservative states than Dems do.

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founding

Wow! you may be on to something (if it wasn't his parents who bailed him out).

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All of this is sadly predictable. We have a conservative-dominated Supreme Court which appears to be quite openly granting access to those who support it. This has long been the Republican dream.

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So far long overdue as to be a no-brainer. And the evil is by design

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I was unaware that the justices of the Supreme Court had no restrictions placed on how they conducted themselves regarding their cases. It is well passed time for ALL the justices to be sworn in abiding by a code of conduct. They are the SUPREME court after all, but apparently, they seem to think they can do whatever they want. NOT. This needs to be taken care of immediately. They are destroying the reputation of the SCOTUS.

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There is no code of conduct because for the longest time there really didn't need to be. They comported themselves in a manner that for the most part didn't have people always questioning their impartiality. Some of them have now gone full Handmaid's Tale and are rubbing our noses in it. Roberts is an incredibly weak Chief Justice, perhaps weakest of all time.

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Apparently, Kavanaugh thought he could just hang with his conservative buddies like he did in high school. He is the poster boy for why there should be a strict code of conduct. He is living up to the reputation he swore wasn't real. He should never have been nominated much less serving on SCOTUS. Since he thinks he is invincible, let's see how long it will be before he screws up royally.

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That is true. From most of my memory of SCOTUS (and we actually studied government in school)— it was above all scrutiny because it was the final word as a protector of our constitution. That, thanks to fascist Republicans, is no longer true.

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Very much past time indeed. This probably should’ve been addressed right after World War II. 

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Does anyone know what the procedure is to expand the supreme court? It seems to be urgent at this point especially with independent state legislature cases threatening to end free and fair elections.

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Congress can "just" pass a bill changing the number of justices. It's been done before. Of course, it won't pass now or in the near future because S&M (our two favorite senators) will defend the filibuster rule.

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founding

MOOT! We'd need majorities in both houses (60 in Senate)....

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Re: the Hobby Lobby decision. I get that Justice Alito (pains me to even refer to him that way) has denied, denied, denied disclosing the decision to the Wrights but I would like to hear MRS. Alito deny, under oath, having that discussion specifically with MRS. Wright. Remember it was Mrs. Wright who was communicating with the Reverend. Anyone who thinks that judges don't discuss high profile cases with their spouses is smoking crack. And a spouse should be held to the same ethics standards as the judge.

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Thank you, Judd.

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Nice work, thanks!

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See Thom Hartmann’s column (here on Substack)on SCOTUS lack of oversight. It’s the only court throughout all state, federal, district, municipal courts with no code of ethics. John Roberts attested they are above that standard, could take care of it amongst themselves. They hobnob with people who have cases before the court and accept free travel and holiday stays from the same groups. The current court and many before are obvious partisan entities, should be kept in check. Congress has the power to impose an ethics code, and Biden should speak in support.

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This is just sickening.

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