Searching for an Ethics Crisis? Look at Congress: Stephen Carter

I’m not sure there’s much fire beneath the smoky ethical allegations swirling around the US Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas stands accused of accepting lavish gifts from a wealthy friend. Critics say Justice Neil Gorsuch shouldn’t have done a real estate deal with the head of a law firm that does business before the court.

None of this seems to violate any rules; at worst, the disclosures could have been clearer. Moreover, the recently floated notion that a big book contract creates a conflict of interest is farcical. But even if I’m wrong and there’s flame aplenty, the news media’s ...