Supreme Court Justice Thomas has raked in over $40,000 in gifts during his tenure in the highest court in the land. Technically, accepting expensive gifts is not against the Ethics rules as long as the person does not have official business with the Court.

But, since Justices are appointed for life, there is always a chance that one of those gracious donors would have business before the Court at some time, and may want a little quid pro quo for their generosity. I mean really, what other reason would someone give an expensive gift to the justice?

Is it appropriate for a Supreme Court Justice to accept expensive gifts? Cheap gifts? (yah, right, like that’d ever happen!! )

Should the Ethics rules be changed to prohibit any gift-giving to federal judges?

Is it appropriate for a Supreme Court Justice to accept expensive gifts? Cheap gifts? (yah, right, like that’d ever happen!!)

I saw this in the paper yesterday. The 40,000.00 Justice Thomas received in gifts seems a bit out of line, especially when it's about eight time higher than the $5000.00 plus received by his nearest competition--Sandra Day O'Connor.

Should the Ethics rules be changed to prohibit any gift-giving to federal judges?

I think this would be a good idea with the exception of gifts from blood relatives and those given by spouses. Close friends were mentioned in the article, but how does one determine whether a friend is close or not?

These questions come up in other contexts. Some years ago a Supeintendent of Schools in Fort Worth got his tail in a crack for accepting cases of expensive whiskey and some shotguns from district building contractors.

During the years I taught, the question frequently came up about buying the principal Christmas gifts. My position was that group gifts (faculty members chipping in anonymously) were better than individual gifts, since principals are assigned the job of evaluating teachers.

I think this is a good topic and wish it could have gotten some of the attention another topic has received today.

"I saw this in the paper yesterday. The 40,000.00 Justice Thomas received in gifts seems a bit out of line, especially when it's about eight time higher than the $5000.00 plus received by his nearest competition--Sandra Day O'Conner."


Yes..the Ethics rules should be changed! The SC receives more than fair compensasion for their services. This change is long overdue,I am sure there are guidlines in place but they can and do find ways around the guidelines.

"All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing" E.Burke

Adam Stone

I don't think conflict of interest rules apply to gifts given in private between families. As to determining the closeness of friends, good question. I'd be willing to bet that the judges use that to excuse the gift-giver's largesse.

It smacks of buying influence, in my opinion, and when the recipient is a jurist of the highest court in the land, the opportunity for and possibility of improper influence staggers the mind. Every large company (and many small ones) I have ever worked for asks their employees to sign a statement agreeing that they will not accept any gifts from suppliers, customers, etc., even if it's just a memento (pens, other tchotchkes).

Interestingly enough, there was a story on 60 Minutes last night about a high-ranking Air Force Contract Administrator who was giving herself gifts, by putting multi-billion dollar (taxpayer dollars, our money) contracts in Boeing's pockets while securing jobs at Boeing for her daughter, her son-in-law and setting one up herself for after she retired from the AF. She's headed for federal prison. You can read about her here.

Is it appropriate for a Supreme Court Justice to accept expensive gifts?

No, I do not unless those gifts are from blood relatives or spouses.

Cheap gifts?

Perhaps there could be a cap set on gifts from people other than blood relatives or spouses. But I think there should also be a restriction as to the type of gift as well. And I think that gift giving should be very closely monitored.