To the Editor:

My friend, Andy Buzzi, Esq in his letter to the editor (“Saving Democracy From An Existential Threat,” August 2, 2024) threw shade to certain Supreme Court Justices who clandestinely and flagrantly violated ethics and integrity. Though Andy wants to focus on conservative versus progressive politics, what actually concerns the public, lawyers, historians and the press is ethics and integrity. Spectacular gifts to Supreme Court justices hearing billionaire’s cases and justices alleged perjurious testimony affirming certain cases are established law of the land, governed by stare decisis, are the issue. Here’s the obvious:

First,

1) Justice Samuel Alito took gratuitous luxury fishing vacations with billionaire Paul Singer totaling $100,000s of dollars. Singer’s hedge fund came up to the Supreme Court 10 times to which Alito failed to recuse himself. In 2014, Alito voted 7-1 in the majority for Singer’s hedge fund.

2) Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose vacations, plane trips, yacht vacations valued at more than $1,000,000 from GOP Mega-Donor Harlan Crow, plus payment of private school tuitions for Thomas relatives.

3) Justice Brett Kavanaugh prior to his appointment was extensively in debt with $60,000 and $200,000 on three credit cards. To date, no explanation as how these were suddenly paid off after his appointment to the Court.

4) Justice Neil Gorsuch for two years sought a buyer from his property in Colorado. Nine days after he was confirmed as Supreme Court justice, one of the biggest law firms bought the property for $1.825 million dollars. Gorsuch made about $500,000. The law firm since has been involved in more than 22 cases before the Supreme Court. He failed to recuse himself and opined in favor of the law firm’s client repeatedly.

If Andy or I funded such vacation or gifts for Connecticut Court judges to which we were parties or represented parties, and failed to disclose same (or the judge failed to report and recuse), the only issue would be when we would be Suspended or Disbarred from the practice of law, and the Judge removed. Some Justices of the Supreme Court consider themselves above ethics (similarly to how they feel the President is above the criminal law. The Founding Fathers established a President, not a King. The recent Trump immunity decision rivals some of the worst decisions, ie, Dred Scott, Plessy v. Ferguson, Dobbs and Citizen’s United.)

Second, these Justices swore under oath at the Senate hearings that Roe v. Wade, was established law and stare decisis a principal weighing heavily in their decisions. First chance, they breached their sworn testimony and overturned Roe v. Wade.

Then there’s US Senate lack of integrity … Mitch McConnell stole Supreme Court seats — 11 months from the Presidential election (no precedent) … too soon for a Merrick Garland Supreme Court hearing, but three weeks prior to the Presidential election … more than enough time to approve Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. The unabashed hypocrisy and absence of integrity is astonishing.

It’s ethics and integrity not shade.

My opinions only.

Thank you,

Jim Gaston

Newtown