Ginni Thomas sides against ethics

 

September 7, 2024

This week, ProPublica reported that Ginni Thomas privately applauded religious-rights group First Liberty Institute for countering the widespread calls to reform the Supreme Court, writing in an email to the group that they had “filled the sails of so many judges.” The calls for reform that she disparages have been inspired, in large part, by her husband Justice Clarence Thomas’s mounting pile of ethics violations. This is not the first time Ginni Thomas has been caught engaging in political issues related to the court, creating an appearance of conflict of interest that reflects acutely on her husband. Partiality to a cause — or even the appearance of it — can cast major doubt on the independence of the court. With public trust in the court near a historic low, our justices need to be all the more vigilant about preserving the actual and perceived integrity of the institution. Ginni Thomas’s private display of appreciation for First Liberty Institute’s anti-ethics stance makes even more clear why we need ethics reform at the Supreme Court. WANT MORE FROM POGO? The latest from us, straight to your inbox For updates on POGO’s investigations, upcoming events, and more ways you can get involved, subscribe to our emails. IMPACT REPORT 2024 Impact Report (Jan.-Jun.) Read about POGO’s accomplishments and impact in the first half of 2024. Read More ANALYSIS We Built a Surveillance State. What Now? For decades, Republicans and Democrats have greenlit a massive surveillance apparatus. What happens when this powerful tool is in the hands of the wrong person? Read More OVERHEARD ONE LINERS “The current landscape is unfortunately quite troubling. Immigrants have been targeted, and both documented and undocumented immigrants face backlash from people in the United States.” Katherine Hawkins, Senior Legal Analyst, in an interview with The Leadership Conference   WANT MORE FROM POGO? Eyes on the federal government from every angle:   Paper Trail: Quick links to the news in the world of government oversight The Bunker: Military intelligence from POGO's Mark Thompson Click here to update your newsletter subscriptions.   🎧 Bad Watchdog Podcast 📺 YouTube 📱 Instagram 💸 Support our work

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