Feb

2011

5:08pm, EST

Clerks and U.S. senators

From NBC's Pete Williams
Two of the newest members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Republican Mike Lee of Utah, share a distinction appropriate to that committee. Both were U.S. Supreme Court clerks.

Blumenthal clerked for Justice Harry Blackmun, and Lee was a clerk for Justice Samuel Alito.

But how many other U.S. senators have clerked for Supreme Court justices throughout American history?

A) 0
B) 2
C) 3
D) 5

The correct answer is below. But before getting to it, it's worth noting how many former Supreme Court clerks have gone on to become justices on the high court. Three members of the current court have that distinction -- John Roberts clerked for William Rehnquist; Elena Kagan clerked for Thurgood Marshall; and Stephen Breyer clerked for Arthur Goldberg. Among former justices, Rehnquist clerked for Robert Jackson; John Paul Stevens clerked for Wiley Rutledge; and Byron White clerked for Fred Vinson.

Now to the answer: It's zero. Remarkably, Lee and Blumenthal become the first U.S. senators ever to serve as Supreme Court clerks, according to a check with the court and the Senate historian. It's a fact first pointed out by Legal Times, noted in introducing an interview with Sen. Lee in its Feb. 7 issue.

Explore related topics: congress, courts, pete-williams

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Lee was a clerk for Justice Samuel Alito.

Samuel Alito the 'Activist Judge'?

Last night, the American Spectator — a right-wing magazine known for its role in the “Arkansas Project,” a well-funded effort to invent stories with the goal of eventually impeaching President Clinton — held its annual gala fundraising event. The Spectator is more than merely an ideological outlet. Spectator publisher Al Regnery helps lead a secretive group of conservatives called the “Conservative Action Project,” formed after President Obama’s election, to help lobby for conservative legislative priorities, elect Republicans (the Conservative Action Project helped campaign against Democrat Bill Owens in NY-23), and block President Obama’s judicial appointments. The Spectator’s gala last night, with ticket prices/sponsorship levels ranging from $250 to $25,000, featured prominent Republicans like RNC chairman Michael Steele, hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer (a major donor to Republican campaign committees and attack ad groups), and U.S. Chamber of Commerce board member and former Allied Capital CEO William Walton. Among the attendees toasting Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), the keynote speaker for the event, was Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito.

It’s not the first time Alito has attended the Spectator dinner. In 2008, Alito headlined the Spectator’s annual gala, helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the political magazine. According to Jay Homnick, a conservative who attended the 2008 Spectator gala, Alito spent much of his speech ripping then Vice President-elect Joe Biden as a serial plagiarizer.

As Alito entered the event last night, I approached the Justice and asked him why he thought it appropriate to attend a highly political fundraiser with the chairman of the Republican Party, given Alito’s position on the court. Alito appeared baffled, and replied, “it’s not important that I’m here.” “But,” I said, “you also helped headline this same event two years ago, obviously helping to raise political money as the keynote.” Alito replied curtly, “it’s not important,” before walking away from me.

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/11/10/sam-alito-republican-fundraiser/

NUFF said!

5 votes

#1 - Mon Feb 7, 2011 5:15 PM EST

american-2051576

Your point feisty??? By your thinking, the following will also hang over Elana kegans head in the years ahead.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/07/kagan-fundraising-at-harv_n_637433.html

If Kagan is confirmed to the court as expected, it's possible she will encounter Harvard donors again, this time arguing as lawyers, plaintiffs or defendants.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38126576/ns/politics-supreme_court/

Harvard Law graduate Jack S. Levin, a Kirkland & Ellis partner in Chicago who helped arrange his firm's $3 million donation and head the campaign's Midwestern effort, said he knows four justices well. Levin said he has a high regard for Kagan and thinks the feeling is mutual, but doesn't consider their connection something that would give him or his firm an advantage before the court.

"People like Elena Kagan deal with hundreds and hundreds of people and once that's over, they don't owe them any allegiance," Levin said.

If you think you are so smart and ethically minded why not encourage your congressman to bring impeachment against Alito?

7 votes

#1.1 - Mon Feb 7, 2011 6:59 PM EST

bob-1805084

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/11/10/sam-alito-republican-fundraiser/

NUFF said!

Yea, think progress - nuff said.

You know what, if you are going to excoriate, marginalize, call no joe a serial liar like today, day after day, month after month for referencing Press Trust of India, or the Telegraph of UK, you don't get to use thinkprogress with out being called out.

Do you not know how asinine and absurd it is no completely dismiss the largest news agency in India, a news agency with 150 officies in the second most populist country in the world, a news agency that exchanges and is relied upon by more than 100 of the biggest news agencies in the world including Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, on and on....... has a global presence with officies in New York, Washington DC, Moscow, Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai.........

.....dismiss this agency to tout a liberal BLOG!

Yea, nuff said about your bias and credibility.

4 votes

#1.2 - Mon Feb 7, 2011 7:16 PM EST

Jody, Iowa

Apparently if a right-leaning Justice attends political fund raising events or is the keynote speaker, the American people should not be concerned. Here's a thought--whether right or left, our Supreme Court Justices should not be part of fund raising or speaking at any political party's events. How they vote personally is none of my business but the fact that they make decisions affecting EVERY American is and any appearance of political partisanship is not acceptable.

7 votes

#1.3 - Mon Feb 7, 2011 7:56 PM EST

Rick,Ky

Really Bob, you're actually gonna back that Rediculos $200 Million a day, NONSENSE? Irregardless of ThinkProgress"s piece, Doncha think 200 Million is pretty far out there?

Did America need to be reminded of what it cost for President Bushes African Safari's? Nope, he was President, helping a Continent, combat Aid's!

I mean, "ComeOnMan", Really ?

3 votes

#1.4 - Mon Feb 7, 2011 8:42 PM EST

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Yea, nuff said about your bias and credibility.

In case you missed it earlier bobby... I'll repost the 'Anatomy of a Serial Liar' just for you! ;o)

It more than PROVES my point when you have your own 'side' calling her out!

Anatomy of a serial liar:

It is all over the BBC

REALLY?

I've been all over the BBC web site for the last 20 minutes, and I'll be darned if I can find that story

If you read my post, you will find that I said the my husband is IN the UK, he HEARD it on the BBC news, and the commentators are all, well, furious

I can't find anything on the BeeB about your contention at all NJNB...where is it?

I did find this;

A State Department spokesman called a British newspaper's report that the U.S. offered to disclose British nuclear secrets in order to secure support for the New START treaty "bunk."

The Telegraph reported Saturday that WikiLeaks cables showed the administration agreed to give Russia information about every Trident missile the U.S. supplies to the United Kingdom

I posted the links I found...the Daily Mail and the Telegraph have competing takes on the situation, as they often do, but as the home page of BBC news clearly illustrates, it isn't a major story...you can see for yourself...

It was a big enough story on the morning broadcast, dangerfield, that my husband called me as soon as the five hour time difference allowed to ask me what the he'll was going on.

Joanne, the link I gave was to the Telegraph. Are you actually saying that selling out an ally is a non-story because a conservative news site carried the story, along with other outlets?

Talk about back-peddling!

It unravels before her very ‘eyes’ in a matter of minutes… lol

It goes from ALL over the BBC to well.. not really I meant the Telegraph & Wikileaks! If that was the case WHY didn’t you say so to begin with?

Eh nevermind we ALL already know the answer to that...

Then you wonder why NO one takes a word she says SERIOUSLY! lol

You really did 'out do' yourself today NJNB! ;o)

#1.5 - Tue Feb 8, 2011 9:09 AM EST

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devie

Interesting, I guess this might help them understand the nuisances of the SCOTUS. I would guess most clerks would go on to serve as an officer of the court in a state or the federal court systems.

4 votes

#2 - Mon Feb 7, 2011 5:16 PM EST

AnaBanana-1782128

Alito, Scalia, Thomas. All far right activist judges. Attending fundraisers, raising money, making money for corporations and Republicans while serving in SCOTUS and making decisions favorable to all of the above. Never recusing themselves from said decisions because of their obvious bias. They have given SCOTUS a bad name. Cannot wait until all three are replaced.

3 votes

#3 - Mon Feb 7, 2011 9:43 PM EST

cm-1156161

You are right on ANaBanana. These activist judges should be removed from their office. I say impeach them. If it was the other way around, the Republicans would be throwing a fit. Since it benefits them, they are not going to say anything. There should be something done about this. I still do not know why this is a life term position. GET RID OF THEM NOW.

2 votes

#4 - Tue Feb 8, 2011 12:59 AM EST

Job1

I have never gotten over the fact that the conservative Supreme Court weighted in on the 2000 election and appointed George W. Bush as President.

Actually, had the right thing been done in Florida in 2000 and the will of the people had been honored, with a clean vote re-done, we would not have been in the mess we are in as far as war.

#5 - Tue Feb 8, 2011 8:32 AM EST

Chef Darrell

It might have turned out differently had the dems had your crystal ball and put up someone other than the most boring person in the world as their candidate.

#5.1 - Tue Feb 8, 2011 8:38 AM EST

Job1

Well, I would rather have boring than stupid.

One example: The Butter- Fly ballot in itself was a reason to have a re-vote. 4,000 to 19,000 votes not counted for Gore.

Talk about a government take over. President Elect Gore never got to serve.

#5.2 - Tue Feb 8, 2011 9:18 AM EST

Seattle Sue

Chef, you do remember that Gore won the popular vote. Then the Supreme court made a ruling that gave the 200 election to your buddy Bush.