Litigation

On Late Night TV, Recusal Issue Recapped

By Peter Hardin

It’s not often that the issue of judicial recusal pops up on late-night TV. But the ethics attacks launched on several Supreme Court justices (see Gavel Grab) appear to have changed that.

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert recently spotlighted an effort by Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., and more than 70 other House Democrats demanding that Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself from any Supreme Court decision over the nation’s health care reform law.

Their letter cited work by Virginia Thomas, his wife, on behalf of efforts opposing that law, according to a Hill newspaper article. You can click here to view the Colbert video.

Colbert recapped the recusal issue in a commentary and concluded:

“It’s all moot anyway. Supreme Court justices are not breaking the rules because there is no explicit code of ethics for the nine Supreme Court justices.

“That’s right. No one is the boss of them!”

In a separate segment Colbert interviewed Weiner on camera about the issue. He began by telling Weiner, “You’ve tried to silence Clarence Thomas.” Colbert added, “Well, the joke’s on you. He’s already silent.” For the Weiner interview, click here.

Full post as published by The Gavel on March 11, 2011 (boomark / email).