bibli0phageAug 11, 2023
Heidi Li Feldman
U.S. #law schools should discourage students from applying for clerkships with #ClarenceThomas; faculty should refuse to recommend students for those clerkships; firms and other legal employers should refuse to hire people who have chosen to clerk for Thomas starting this year (when the large extent of his corruption became known). To do otherwise is to be complicit with Thomasโ€™s unethical conduct. #LawFedi #LegalEthics #JudicialEthics
Aug 11, 2023 at 1:34pmToot!
Show threadHomerHarlequinAug 11, 2023

@heidilifeldman

In a further sign that John Robert's "Supreme" court has lost all credibility, Alabama legislature has felt free to ignore its order to redo the states redistricting map to include 2 minority districts.

Show threadLGsMomAug 11, 2023
@HomerHarlequin @heidilifeldman
Show threadThe Flight AttendantAug 12, 2023
@LGsMom @HomerHarlequin @heidilifeldman "SCOTUS is illegitimate" read my sign at the last protest I attended
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@heidilifeldman

I have no love for Thomas.. but no just ew no. Working for someone doesnt mean you should be an outcast for life... no lets stop with this petty nonsense. Focus on Thomas if you want to boycott someone.

Show threadOpenDNAโš™๏ธAug 11, 2023

@freemo @heidilifeldman Honestly? Knowing what we know now? Yeah, it should. It's like those who joined the Trump White House: literally everyone in the field knew it was a career-ender so only the stupid, corrupt, or morally bankrupt signed up. Republicans of intelligence or integrity blocked the transition team's phone number.

It's not like someone can hope to learn anything about jurisprudence from the man. It's clearly nothing more than an internship in partisan corruption.

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@opendna

I hve no problem with you judging politicians by whatever standards you want.. but working people being denied jobs because of politicial associations.. absolutely not, disgusting.

@heidilifeldman

Show threadcui bono, baby.Aug 11, 2023
@freemo really? So you think KKK members should be hired at the Civil Rights division of the Department of Justice?
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023
@cuibonobaby How in the world did you get that from what I just said? Being in the KKK is not a political association.
Show threadcui bono, baby.Aug 11, 2023
@freemo Of course it's a political association.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023
@cuibonobaby No, how is being in the KKK and an assocition with a political figure? It is an organization, not a person, it isnt a political party nor contain any politicians.
Show threadcui bono, baby.Aug 12, 2023
@freemo What difference does it make whether the association is with an individual or an organization? If you think the KKK doesn't contain any politicians you don't know much about the history of the KKK.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 12, 2023
@cuibonobaby I never said the issue was organization vs individual.. they arent a political party, they arent a political individual. They are neither. What they are is an organization whose purpose it is to harass minorities.
Show threadAaron MoshiashwiliAug 12, 2023

@freemo @opendna @heidilifeldman so in your mind, hyperconnected lawyers who will get a half million dollar bonus just for that line on their resume are "working people"

And "don't work for obviously corrupt people" is "punish people for their political associations" in your mind. I guess you're saying that you automatically associate corruption with Thomas's political party?

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 12, 2023

@amoshiashwili

They arent people who are working? The what now?

also no, I addressed your second point already. If they had inside information about corruption, then yes, you should hold them accountable. Now if your expecting them to act on corruption becoming publicly known, there is a formal system in place to investigate those claims and act on them. It is not an employees responsiblity to determine their bosses innocence or guilt, or to hold him accountable for it.

@opendna @heidilifeldman

Show threadAaron MoshiashwiliAug 12, 2023

@freemo @opendna @heidilifeldman WOW. That's just... Wow.

"Tell me you've never worked in a competently managed professional workplace without saying..."

Show threadOpenDNAโš™๏ธAug 12, 2023

@freemo @heidilifeldman You're telling me that it is wrong to judge a candidate's moral integrity, for positions which require exceptional trust and professional ethics, and that it is wrong for people who suffer genuine persecution to refuse to associate with the people who spend their days making that persecution possible.

Thomas is both single most notorious example of public corruption in office today in America. His clerks are unfit for the profession. They can be carpenters or line cooks.

Show threadOpenDNAโš™๏ธAug 12, 2023

@freemo @heidilifeldman For every Thomas clerk employed in law, there are thousands of more ethical young attorneys who will not find employment in the field.

What you are arguing for is rewarding corruption above integrity, nepotism above merit, and the politics of bigotry above tolerance.

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 12, 2023
@opendna @[email protected] thats not what im arguing for.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 12, 2023

@opendna @heidilifeldman

No that is not what im saying.

Show threadCowBlizzardAug 11, 2023
@freemo @heidilifeldman yes it should follow you for life. You make your choice to work with a corrupt Justice, it says all we need to know about your character.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@cowblizzard

Well lets hope people boycott you and refuse to ever hire you again for having such fascist views. Maybe you will learn something.

@heidilifeldman

Show threadCowBlizzardAug 11, 2023
@freemo @heidilifeldman ok.
Show threadAndrew PrillamanAug 11, 2023

@freemo @heidilifeldman

They said "starting this year". Anyone who worked for him in the past is fine, but people choosing to work for him are most certainly aware of the reporting about him.

Personally I think that's generous. It's unlikely that his clerks were totally unaware of how he was operating.

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@ThatPrilla @heidilifeldman

Its not about awareness. People need to feed their families, or are trying to get training so they can get hired.

Not to mention that forcing him to not have a staff isnt going to solve a damn thing, if anything will just make him worse not better.

Show threadAndrew PrillamanAug 11, 2023

@freemo @heidilifeldman

Since 2020 he has had 18 law clerks.

6 from Yale, 5 from Chicago, 3 from Harvard, and 1 each from NYU, Virginia, George Mason, and Alabama.

Each class of 37 law clerks (4 per justice 5 for chief justice) is on a path towards being able to wield power and influence that will impact every person living in the United States.

These are future federal judges, attorneys general, state solicitors, state supreme court justices, politicians, lawyers and activists.

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@ThatPrilla

Yes they are, and who they worked for should not change that. Now if they actively did anything on their own then by all means hold it against them. Thomas's decisions arent their own, nor do they necessarily have the luxury to quit.

@heidilifeldman

Show threadAndrew PrillamanAug 11, 2023

@freemo @heidilifeldman

None of these folks would have trouble getting a job with likely better pay.

With very few exceptions, they have a previous clerkship with a federal judge.

By helping Thomas justify his opinions, they literally further his potentially corrupt influence.

I simply do not understand this desire to coddle people who are supposed to be the future best and brightest of the legal profession and refuse to hold them accountable.

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@ThatPrilla

Regardless, even if they could find a job, no this is wrong without actively reviewing their specific actions. They may very well be offering dissenting opinions to Thomas and very much trying to push him the opposite direction.

These sort of idiotic blanket boycots on people simply by association, particularly employment, is not the way to go on any level.

@heidilifeldman

Show threadAndrew PrillamanAug 11, 2023

@freemo @heidilifeldman

That might be a compelling argument in the case of a justice who wasn't tainted by the appearance of corruption.

Corruption isn't something you sway with a slick legal argument. Corruption dictates the outcome and finds justification after the fact.

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@ThatPrilla

For the corruption component I see two sides... Before the corruption was exposed they may not have known, so i wont hold that against them unless specific evidence surfaces they knew... After the corruption was exposed its not their responsibility to judge or investigate if the corruption is legitimate. There are mechanisms in place for that already and that is where that should be decided.

@heidilifeldman

Show threadcui bono, baby.Aug 11, 2023
@freemo Keep moving those goalposts.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023
@cuibonobaby LOL as if adapting ones position when new information is learned is a bad thing.
Show threadcui bono, baby.Aug 11, 2023
@freemo what new information did you lthat caused you to change your position? In fact it appears like you couldn't defend your first position so you just adopted another one.
Show threadcui bono, baby.Aug 11, 2023
@freemo *did you learn.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@cuibonobaby

How has my original position changed? huh

The new information I responded to was the assertion that they could probably find new jobs easily enough. My original position never asserted that them being unable to find new work is the only reason that would justify them being a clerk, so how did I move the goalposts?

Show threadcui bono, baby.Aug 11, 2023
@freemo I stand corrected. You didn't change your original position.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023
@cuibonobaby appreciate the intellectual honesty on that reply, thanks.
Show threadMattAug 11, 2023
@freemo @ThatPrilla @heidilifeldman this idea that Supreme Court clerks from elite law schools are pursuing and accepting clerkships with Thomas to โ€œfeed their familiesโ€ is hilariously out of touch with reality. They have other options, all of which are lucrative.
Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑAug 11, 2023

@MattFerrel

You: Hahaha they can get other jobs and feed their family

Also you: We need to boycott them and make sure they cant get any jobs!

@ThatPrilla @heidilifeldman

Show threadAndrew PrillamanAug 11, 2023

@freemo @MattFerrel @heidilifeldman

No one called for anyone who ever worked for him in the past to be blacklisted. (I did note that it's hard to believe they weren't aware of his activities).

Everyone who was working for him at the time or in the future has an ethical choice to make.

Show thread์žก์ƒ‰์‚ฐ์ž‘ Sittiparus variusAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman unfortunately, law students and legal scholars are not necessarily known for having any form of a spine whatsoever...
Show threadVoronAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman but they wonโ€™t
Show threadDarwin WoodkaAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman except the reality is nobody on the right has any fucking ethics left at all, and they don't care.
Show threadKarl AuerbachAug 11, 2023

@heidilifeldman An interesting law review article would be to re-examine every case thomas took part on and re-count the votes without him.

Every SCOTUS case in which thomas''s vote changed the outcome could be considered tainted and lose its precedental weight.

Show thread๐‰๐จ๐ง ๐๐ž๐ซ๐ ๐ž๐ซAug 11, 2023
@karlauerbach @heidilifeldman I wonder how it would go over with a court if I were to argue that they didn't need to follow a 5-4 Supreme Court case in which Thomas was in the majority and which supported the interests of his billionaire buddies. I'm guessing not well. Tempting, though.
Show threadTopKnotAug 11, 2023

@heidilifeldman

To implement your plan would mean many of the potential conservative clerks would clamor to get the "job," because conservatives think of corruption and grifting as a virtue. Just saying.

But if law school encourage clerks that have real morals, then they could point out the corruption and grifting as it occurs.

Show threadJoeStewartAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman
Thomas is a disgrace.
The fact that just a week or so ago SCOTUS collectively asserted that itโ€™s ethics were fine demonstrates that Roberts has NO IDEA whatโ€™s actually going on. Thomas signed that letter to the US Senate claiming heโ€™s in full compliance.
Thomas should be referred to the DOJ for tax evasion and he should be impeached.
Show threadLumpenproAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman does this complicity apply only to clerkship at the SC? Do all the people working for E.Musk partake and become tarred by his management practices?
Itโ€™s an extreme and simplistic solution to suggest clerking for an an associate justice of the Supreme Court should be off limits because of the personal behavior of a justice vis a vis an ethical standard that does not appear to have affected his decisions on the court.
Letโ€™s discuss impeachment or the creation of an ethics standard with teeth please.
Show threadMattAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman wow, this thread really cleans up nicely once you block the reply guy
Show threadCitizenKoenigAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman Hear, hear!
Show threadVirginia HollowayAug 11, 2023
@heidilifeldman thatโ€™s all very well, but the sad part is we also know there are people out there who are now MORE interested in clerking for him and hiring his former clerks after all this reporting.
Show threadThe Flight AttendantAug 12, 2023
@heidilifeldman They should be shunned from polite society because of Ginni Thomas's insurrectionist activities. They should be prosecuted if they broke ANY laws, including tax law. Republicans supposedly care so much about Hunter Biden paying taxes late one year, I'm SURE they will be outraged to find out the Thomases were not reporting large gifts to the IRS. Lastly he should resign or be impeached. SCOTUS is completely illegitimate and corrupt