ABC's Callow Attempt to Impugn Justice Salia

EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Ethics Problem?

What Was Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Doing on Day of Supreme Court Swearing-In?

Brian Ross
abc News
Jan. 23, 2006

At the historic swearing-in of John Roberts as the 17th chief justice of the United States last September, every member of the Supreme Court, except Antonin Scalia, was in attendance. ABC News has learned that Scalia instead was on the tennis court at one of the country's top resorts, the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bachelor Gulch, Colo., during a trip to a legal seminar sponsored by the Federalist Society.
Not only did Scalia's absence appear to be a snub of the new chief justice, but according to some legal ethics experts, it also raised questions about the propriety of what critics call judicial junkets.

"It's unfortunate of course that what kept him from the swearing-in was an activity that is itself of dubious ethical propriety," said Stephen Gillers, a New York University law professor, who is a recognized scholar on legal ethics.

Scalia Mum

Scalia spent two nights at the luxury resort lecturing at the legal seminar where ABC News also found him on the tennis court, heading out for a fly-fishing expedition, and socializing with members of the Federalist Society, the conservative activist group that paid for the expenses of his trip.

At a press conference, almost two weeks later, Scalia was not inclined to tell reporters his whereabouts during Roberts' swearing-in.
"I was out of town with a commitment that I could not break, and that's what the public information office told you," he said.

It "doesn't matter what it was. It was a commitment that I couldn't break," Scalia continued when questioned further.

According to the event's invitation, obtained by ABC News, the Federalist Society promised members who attended the seminar an exclusive and "rare opportunity to spend time, both socially and intellectually" with Scalia.

"I think Justice Scalia should not have gone on that trip for several reasons," Gillers commented. "They are a group with a decided political-slash-judicial profile."

Quelle suprise? An avowed anti-Scalia New York University "recognized scholar" is critical of Justice Scalia's seminar trip. I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you, to discover that ABC news would attempt to assassinate Justice Scalia's reputation. Don't these idiots ever get tired of doing the same old hack journalism they've been doing for so long. A pipsqueak Leftist reporter doing a hatchet job on a distinguished member of the Supreme Court, why am I not surprised. It would be nice to see a reporter actually do some serious journalism and completely research a story rather than trying for the cheap shot. Nothing like consulting only Liberal professors to get insight on the activities of a conservative jurist.

John Leo, in the Huffinton Post points out Justice Stephen Breyer attends Renaissance Weekends in Charleston, South Carolina, each New Year's...Renaissance...is a liberal group (I was one of seven or eight identifiable conservatives there this year, out of a total attendance of about 1,800) And there are lots of liberal lawyers around to shmooze with Breyer the way the conservative lawyers shmoozed with Scalia in Colorado...[it is run]as a non-political event, with no partisan comments allowed on panels, and no booing of the visiting conservative specimens either. Still, when panelists use the word "we," it's usually a reference to the Democratic party." [I provide the above link in case you think my editing for brevity might alter the meaning.]

Ther is nothing unethical about the trip, or about Justice Scalia (or Justice Breyer for that matter). What is unethical is the selective editing of information, by a reporter, in order to skew the information to promote a particular point of view, as hack reporter Brian Ross has done.

Full Story: Brian Ross' Hatchet Job

What do you think?

To leave your opinion click on the word "COMMENT(S)" below