In this country, five people on the Supreme Court decide what the Constitution says and, by extension, what the law is. That’s a five times better ratio than in a country like Russia, where one man decides. But when one of those five people is ethically compromised, like Justice Clarence Thomas, the credibility of our legal system is weakened.

The Supreme Court, unlike lower courts, has no code of ethics. While Thomas’ wife Ginni has for many years been active in causes that have come before the court, he has never recused himself from those cases, and has often voted in favor of groups supported or led by Ginni Thomas, including: the 2000 Bush v. Gore election, the 2018 Trump v. Hawaii “Muslim ban” case, and in January of this year, when his was the only vote to keep the January 6 Commission from obtaining Trump’s records about the invasion of the Capitol.

Ginni Thomas accompanied her husband to a meeting with the former president, and lobbied Trump for her preferred policies.

Since the couple admits they operate as a team, Clarence Thomas’ conflict of interest is clear. While this situation exists, the Supreme Court’s authority will continue to erode.

Roger Carpentter
Freeport

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