U.S. Supreme Court in dire need of ethics code to restore faith in judicial system | Opinion

Court needs ethics code

The recent news about Clarence Thomas’ financial entanglements with GOP mega donor Harlan Crow should be alarming to every American.

This is what happens when the highest court in the land is given free rein to police itself. Clarence Thomas isn’t the first justice to engage in unethical behavior. And if Congress continues to ignore the need for a Supreme Court code of ethics, he won’t be the last.

Of the nine justices currently on the bench, four have been called out for unethical behavior and connections in the last year.

Neil Gorsuch sold property to the head of a law firm with cases in front of the Supreme Court. Samuel Alito dined with anti-abortion activists and allegedly leaked decisions on reproductive health.

John Roberts’ wife has earned millions of dollars from law firms with business before the Supreme Court.

Congress has a constitutional duty to act as a check on the Supreme Court and restore faith in our judicial system. It’s time they act and pass a Supreme Court code of ethics.

Theresa Deery, Bluffton

Set tolerant example

A coworker’s close friend committed suicide today. She happened to be gay.

A person’s identity as LGBTQ does not in and of itself cause an increased risk of suicide; however, bullying and other social pressures can increase this risk.

It is known that states with hate crime laws have lower rates of LGBTQ suicide.

On the other hand, states with uninclusive or blatantly discriminatory laws do have higher rates of suicide among LGBTQ people.

The Trevor Project ranks South Carolina as low in its acceptance of LGBTQ people.

At a minimum, I urge my elected officials not to follow other right-leaning states by enacting anti-LGBTQ legislation.

To improve the health and well-being of the state, my legislators could speak out against the blatantly political demonization of LGBTQ people occurring in red states all over the country.

South Carolina could lead as an inclusive and accepting state (unlike Florida and Texas).

I urge my elected officials to do the right thing and help stem the tide of bigotry surging through the country.

Lee Hugar, Columbia

Opt-out offers solution

I feel compelled to write this as a parent, grandparent, and retired teacher.

My concern is the Beaufort County School Board’s decision to ban several books in our schools, including some that are classics.

We want children to develop the ability to make informed decisions and to encourage their curiosity about many topics.

Teens typically spend time on social media and playing video games with friends, not reading. They need critical thinking skills to succeed in the future. Books can help them develop these skills.

Do you want a school board, however well-intentioned, to decide what our kids can read?

This is clearly the role of parents.

Superintendent Frank Rodriquez of the Beaufort County School District is proposing a parental opt-out form.

This rightly gives parents the option of making the decision to read all or certain books. (We know that not all books are age-appropriate.)

Please take the opportunity to let your own board members know that you do not want them to make book banning decisions. Point them in the direction of the Beaufort County School District’s opt-out proposal.

Marcia Budarz, Bluffton

Report obscene stickers

While stopped at a traffic light recently, I noticed a pickup truck with a very derogatory statement directed toward our president posted across the truck’s rear window.

My first thought was that this truck also had numerous Marine Corps decals and surely the Marines would not find this acceptable.

Next, I thought about all the young children in the area who no doubt have seen this display.

And what must our tourists think when they see such?

Does the owner of the vehicle (or any other South Carolinians for that matter) realize that S.C. law, Section 56-5-3885, makes it unlawful to display obscene material on a vehicle visible to the public?

South Carolina, we are better than this.

If you see such obscene material on public display, report it to law enforcement. Yes, there is a fine for this crude behavior.

Christopher Uhall, Beaufort