Justices Thomas and Alito Delay Release of Financial Disclosures

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. have delayed the release of their annual financial disclosure forms, including details such as investments, gifts, and other financial holdings. The Administrative Office of the US Courts handles the financial records and the database where they are publicly disclosed. There is heightened interest in the financial disclosures, especially that of Justice Thomas, after a series of reports raised questions about the level of transparency at the Supreme Court and the lack of an enforceable ethics code. Justice Thomas’s relationship with Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire and long-time Republican donor has given particular attention. In contrast, other justices have disclosed details about their rental properties, income from parking rentals or royalties, travel for legal conferences and teaching, and gifts. Nevertheless, several questions have swirled over the ethics practices of the justices, renewing pressure on the court to tighten its disclosure rules. Recent reports detailed how Mr. Crow had hosted Justice Thomas on luxury vacations aboard his yacht, flown him on his private jet, paid private school tuition for the justice’s nephew, and bought Justice Thomas’s childhood home, where the justice’s mother still resides. Justice Gorsuch also did not disclose that the CEO of a major law firm with frequent business before the court had bought a shared vacation property in Colorado. These instances have led to calls for greater accountability and oversight, including an ethics code for the court, amid Senate requests for the details on the perks given to Justice Thomas by Mr. Crow. Mr. Crow declined, but his lawyer has communicated he welcomes a discussion with the Judiciary Committee. The committee’s chairman and a second senator have warned that if Mr. Crow does not volunteer the requested information, they may subpoena him.

Author: OpenAI