Members of the Supreme Courtroom sit for a brand new group portrait following the addition of Affiliate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, on the Supreme Courtroom constructing in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7, 2022.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
WASHINGTON — Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday belatedly acknowledged extra journey paid by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, whereas a number of colleagues reported six-figure funds as a part of guide offers.
Thomas, who has confronted criticism for failing to report luxurious journeys paid for by Crow and others over a few years, mentioned in his annual monetary disclosure that, in 2019, Crow paid for a lodge room in Bali, Indonesia, for a single night time, and meals and lodging at a non-public membership in Sonoma County, California. He didn’t report any journey paid by others final 12 months.
The disclosure on Indonesia is curious for what it omits: the remainder of the journey. ProPublica reported final 12 months that Thomas flew to Indonesia on Crow’s non-public jet after which boarded his superyacht for an islands tour, one among many journeys Crow has given to Thomas and his spouse, Ginni, over time.
One other justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, reported eye-popping numbers, a virtually $900,000 advance for her upcoming memoir, and attention-grabbing presents, 4 tickets to a Beyoncé live performance valued at $3,700 from the singer herself.
Jackson was one among 4 Supreme Courtroom justices who reported sizable revenue from guide offers. Justice Brett Kavanaugh reported being paid $340,000 by the conservative Regnery Publishing firm. The corporate was offered and the guide is to be printed by an imprint at Hachette Ebook Group, in line with Axios, which additionally reported this week that Kavanaugh’s guide will cope with his contentious affirmation listening to that included allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. The court docket confirmed Friday that the justice is writing a authorized memoir.
Justices Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor reported royalty revenue of $250,000 and almost $90,000, respectively.
Of their day jobs, the justices are being paid $298,500 this 12 months, aside from Chief Justice John Roberts, who earns $312,200.
The one justice whose report was not obtainable Friday is Samuel Alito, who obtained an extension for as much as 90 days, as he does most years. The justice has individually been below scrutiny over flags that flew outdoors houses he owned. He has mentioned they have been raised by his spouse.
Jackson, the primary Black lady on the nation’s highest court docket, signed a guide contract quickly after taking her seat in 2022. The guide, “Lovely One,” is to be printed in September.
The full worth of her guide deal has not been publicly disclosed, however it’s anticipated to rival if not exceed what Sotomayor was paid for her memoir, “My Beloved World,” greater than $3 million.
Among the many present justices, solely Roberts, Alito and Justice Elena Kagan have to this point not lower guide offers. Thomas obtained a $1.5 million advance, gorgeous on the time, for his 2007 guide, “My Grandfather’s Son.” Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2022 reported receiving $425,000 for a yet-to-be-released guide, a part of a reported $2 million deal she signed quickly after becoming a member of the court docket in 2020.
The disclosures paint a partial image of the justices’ funds, as they aren’t required to disclose the worth of their houses or, for many who are married, their spouses’ wage.
The justices adopted an ethics code in November, although it lacks a method of enforcement. The code treats journey, meals and lodging as bills slightly than presents, for which financial values have to be reported. Justices aren’t required to connect a price to bills.
In March, the federal judiciary started requiring judges to reveal travel-related presents and their values — slightly than reporting such presents as reimbursements. The justices say they typically abide by the identical guidelines, however Thomas didn’t disclose the price of the Bali lodge.
Some Democratic lawmakers are persevering with to press laws that may require the court docket to undertake a binding code of conduct and supply for investigations of alleged violations. However the prospect for such laws is taken into account distant in a intently divided Congress.
Solely two justices reported receiving presents final 12 months. Thomas mentioned he was given two picture albums price $2,000 by Terrence Giroux and his spouse. Giroux is the manager director emeritus of the Horatio Alger Affiliation.
Jackson obtained paintings for her Supreme Courtroom workplace price $12,500. After which there have been the Beyoncé tickets, price greater than $900 a pop. Beyoncé carried out two live shows within the Washington space in August 2023, although Jackson’s disclosure doesn’t say when or the place the tickets have been for.
“Justice Jackson is Crazy in Love with Beyonce’s music,” Supreme Courtroom spokeswoman Patricia McCabe mentioned, invoking a Beyoncé track. “Who isn’t?”
