In a recent case, SNYDER v. UNITED STATES, the US Supreme Court declared that money, gifts, and other emoluments given after a decision or action by a public official are gratuities (gifts), not bribes. This looks like the laughable logic of a six-year-old trying to explain away some crime to a parent. This is more embarrassing than usual for a court with no common-sense ethics. But perhaps no surprise since they have not disciplined Clarence Thomas, recipient of $ millions in “gratuities”.
Propublica has a great story, “Supreme Risk: An interactive guide to rights the Supreme Court has established — and could take away“(6.1.2023), enumerating a long list of rights that are the results of Supreme Court actions but not supported by actual laws passed by Congress and signed by a President. —>> read more –>>
The egregious ethics violations and probable law-breaking by our Supreme Court justice are explored in depth in this article from ProPublica: Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski (4.6.2023) It is not terribly long but much worth a read. We normally expect that judges will —>> read more –>>
Our justice system is prominently featured in our culture as a source of fair-handed justice. Everyone stands before the law on an equal footing. The justice system in reality is a gigantic fraud of inequality and lifelong punishment. Our police lead the world in the rate at which they kill civilians. The promise of a fair trial before a jury of our peers is denied over 90% of the time. Coerced plea bargaining with the prosecutors holding all the cards after they have staked the deck is the norm. —>> read more –>>
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