Speaking of Crickets
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Gorsuch Said Findings of Probe Into Leaked Roe Draft Opinion Will Be Made in Report
Justice Neil Gorsuch said Thursday that the Supreme Court’s investigation of the May leak of the draft opinion overruling Roe v. Wade was continuing, and that a report on the incident is coming.
“The chief justice appointed an internal committee to oversee the investigation,” Justice Gorsuch told the 10th Circuit Bench and Bar Conference here at the Broadmoor resort. “That committee has been busy and we’re looking forward to their report, I hope soon.”
Justice Gorsuch didn’t say whether the report would be made public, and the conference prohibited reporters from interviewing him or other judges.
Like other justices, Justice Gorsuch condemned the leak of the draft opinion, and suggested it had been intended to affect the outcome of the abortion case.
“Improper efforts to influence judicial decision making, from whatever side, are a threat” to the judicial process, he said. “They inhibit our capacity to communicate with one another,” reducing the candor between jurists of different persuasions that “improves our final products,” he said. “I very much hope we get to the bottom of this sooner or later.”
In a Dallas event in May, Justice Clarence Thomas said customarily it had been assumed that internal discussions and drafts were sacrosanct. “Now that trust or that belief is gone forever,” he said.
