Justice Alito’s Call with Trump: A Red Flag for Ethics?

Justice Samuel Alito found himself in a sticky situation recently. He took a call from Donald Trump just hours before Trump was set to file a motion with the U. S. Supreme Court. Gabe Roth, an expert in judicial ethics and policy, called this a clear breach of ethics. Alito said the call was just about a job reference for a former clerk. Roth, however, isn't buying it. He thinks Alito should have known better and avoided the call. After all, Trump is involved in a high-profile case, and justices are supposed to keep a safe distance from such matters. Roth points out that the former clerk, Will Levi, has plenty of other people who could vouch for him. Levi has worked for a senator and is a law partner. His family even includes a former federal judge and an ex-Attorney General. So, why did Alito feel the need to talk to Trump directly? Roth believes this incident shows that Supreme Court justices don't always care about ethics. They might not be breaking any laws, but they're certainly bending the rules.

The real concern here is about impartiality. If a justice talks to someone involved in a case, it can look like they're not neutral. This is important because the Supreme Court will be deciding on many issues related to Trump's administration. Roth wonders if the justices will uphold the law or if they'll be swayed by personal connections. There is a rule that says justices should step away from cases where their impartiality might be questioned. But, as Roth notes, there's no real way to enforce this rule. Justices are supposed to police themselves, and sometimes they don't do a great job. With the Supreme Court giving presidents almost complete immunity and Congress not passing strict ethics rules, it seems like justices are feeling more comfortable breaking the rules.

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