Justice and Junkets (BARF alert-NY Slimes slams Scalia)

NY Slimes ^ | 1/27/06 | NY Slimes editorial board

[blitzgig]

Justice Antonin Scalia certainly has poor judgment when it comes to vacations.

Justice Scalia was apparently unchastened by the criticism of his 2004 duck-hunting excursion with Vice President Dick Cheney, one of that term's most prominent Supreme Court litigants. Last September, he skipped the swearing-in of Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. because of another ethically dubious trip, this time to the posh Ritz-Carlton at the Beaver Creek ski resort in Colorado.

He was there to teach a 10-hour seminar over a couple of days for a conservative group, the Federalist Society. "Nightline" recently reported that the gig had left Justice Scalia plenty of time for tennis, fly-fishing and socializing with seminar participants, some of whom may have business before the Supreme Court. One Federalist Society cocktail reception was sponsored in part by the lobbying and law firm that used to employ Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay's convicted pal and benefactor for golf trips.

Justice Scalia's travel is part of a broader affliction on the federal bench. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2004, for example, that Justice Clarence Thomas had accepted thousands of dollars in gifts in recent years, including an $800 leather jacket, a $1,200 set of tires from Nascar and an extravagant vacation from a conservative activist. Federal judges below the Supreme Court level accept dozens of free vacations each year from well-heeled special interests under the guise of "judicial education."

[Vaquero]

http://www.timeswatch.org/

[Rummyfan]

Quite a stretch, even for the Slimes.

[Dog Gone]

Which was scheduled first, the seminary he was teaching or the swearing in of Roberts?

Let me think hard about that.

[goldstategop]

Liberals now view vacation seminars as a dark conspiracy. They're getting more and more unhinged every day.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Dog Gone]

Don't know how that "y" got in there... ;-)

[speedy]

Every time I think there can't be a new low in journalism, the New York Times proves me wrong.

[Semper Paratus]

So what would they call that leftist lovefest in Davos Switzerland?

[Noachian]

He was there to teach a 10-hour seminar over a couple of days for a conservative group, the Federalist Society. "

I didn't register to read the rest of the article, but is there anything reported by the Times about Justice Ginsberg attending ACLU or other extremest left-wing functions?

[kevkrom]

Which was scheduled first, the seminary he was teaching or the swearing in of Roberts?

I'm sure you know, but for the benefit of lurkers, the seminar was scheduled about a year in advance, and Scalia only received travel expenses, no honorarium or other fees.

[pabianice]

[blitzgig]

Yeah, and look at the second paragraph. They try to tie Scalia with Jack Abramoff on very dubious grounds!

[Peach]

The Federalist Society did a good job taking apart ABC's lies the other day.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and other Supreme Court Justice have been invited to the Society. The ACLU has spoken to the Society.

ABC and the NYT attempt to paint Scalia as being corrupted by the Federalist Society and the Society contacted ABC in advance of the show's airing, but those chose to air the lies anyway.

[Peach]

Here is the letter the Federalist Society sent to ABC:

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1565424/posts

[SERKIT]

Uh....and it's OK for Kerry to yodel the "Filibuster Polka" from the Swiss Alps? Who was Kerry's travel advisor?