(11 Jul 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Location unknown – date unknown
1. ANIMATION of the Supreme Court exterior
2. ANIMATION of frames photos of Supreme Court justices
3. ANIMATION of the framed photos cracking like glass
4. ANIMATION of FOIA request pages fluttering on screen
5. ANIMATION of a jet flying over a map of the United States
6. ANIMATION of Sonia Sotomayor’s framed photo appears
7. ANIMATION of a stack of Sotomayor’s book “My Beloved World” with a text fade in reading: $3.7 million in book sales
8. ANIMATION of dissolve of Sotomayor in an interview with an audience
9. ANIMATION of Justice Clarence Thomas’s framed photo appears
10. ANIMATION of an enveloped invitation opening
11. ANIMATION of exteriors of the U.S. Capitol and the White House appearing on screen, and the Supreme Court coming in shortly after
12. ANIMATION of the scales of justice
13. ANIMATION of financial papers scrolling down screen with text overlaid reading:
Aren’t required to disclose details about their financial holdings or activities.
14. ANIMATION of a protest outside the Supreme Court dissolving onto the screen
15. ANIMATION of an arrow pointing downward and moving from upper screen left to downward screen right with overlaid text reading: 18% approval rating
16. ANIMATION of Chief Justice John Roberts’s framed photo appears
17. ANIMATION of a closed door with text overlaid reading: No reforms yet
18. ANIMATION of AP logo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington – 10 July 2023
++FULLY COVERED++
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Hempen, Associated Press:
“It’s a tough time for the Supreme Court. The self-governed institution has long benefited from the presumption that its justices are non-partisan, and sacrificed lucrative careers to serve the public. But now that perception is starting to crack. In a months-long investigation, The Associated Press submitted over 100 public records requests to public schools and institutions where the justices have visited over the years, and the information in these records is revealing. In one case, Justice Sonia Sotomayor padded her book sales during public appearances, making roughly $3.7 million since 2009. While writing books for profit is permissible, AP discovered that Sotomayor’s court staff helped make sales by organizing, promoting and managing her book events. AP also discovered Justice Clarence Thomas was used as a fundraising attraction, accepted invitations to events where his presence helped raise money for organizations. Activities like these are strictly forbidden in other branches of government. So why is the Supreme Court different? Unlike other government employees, Supreme Court justices serve as their own judge and jury on matters of ethics. They also aren’t required to disclose many details about their financial holdings or activities, making it hard for the government and the public to know what they’re up to. Some members of Congress are now demoing the court change and adopt a formal policy for ethics and transparency. This also comes at a time when the court’s public approval rating has dropped to a 50-year low, with just 18 percent expressing “great confidence.” While Chief Justice John Roberts has entertained the idea of potential reforms – he hasn’t opened the door to them yet.”
STORYLINE:
In 2022, Associated Press reporters Eric Tucker and Brian Slodysko set out to unearth what happens when Supreme Court Justices visit universities and law schools to deliver lectures and appear at question-and-answer sessions.
===========================================================
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/344a2b12691f4cf39d7b23d86a926071
The Pulse of Washington D.C.
