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POLITICS

Are Supreme Court Justices allowed to accept gifts?

Much controversy has been garnered by perceived corruption of the country’s highest court with undeclared and under-the-counter gifts.

FILE PHOTO: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S., June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
Evelyn HocksteinREUTERS

Recent scandals involving Supreme Court Justices accepting lavish gifts from wealthy benefactors have thrust the issue of judicial ethics into the spotlight. These controversies have raised serious questions about the propriety and legality of gift-giving to the nation’s highest judicial officers.

For just one judge, Clarence Thomas, he received free trips to and free stays at Bohemian Grove and Topridge worth $1,787,684 over a 20-year period.

“The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land but has the lowest ethical standards, which means pay-to-play billionaires, right-wing dark money groups and carbon-emitting special interests have freedom to purchase the best justice money can buy,” said Rep. Raskin, who introduced a bill in June in an attempt to tighten up the rules.

The High Court Gift Ban Act would prohibit Supreme Court justices from receiving gifts valued at more than $50.

The rules around Supreme Court justice gifts

Supreme Court Justices are subject to certain restrictions regarding gift acceptance, but these rules have proven to be far less stringent than those applied to other government officials. The justices are required to report gifts exceeding a certain monetary threshold, which is adjusted annually for inflation, in their yearly financial disclosure reports.

However, there are significant loopholes in these regulations. Gifts of personal hospitality, such as lodging and meals provided at a private residence, are generally exempt from reporting requirements. The current system also relies heavily on self-reporting, with no independent body to verify or investigate potential violations.

Rules