Private SCOTUS files that could reveal what happened in Bush v. Gore remain locked up
Source: CNN
(CNN)Internal Supreme Court documents that could enhance public understanding of the Bush v. Gore election battle and other significant cases of the late 1990s and early 2000s were to be opened last year under a deal forged by a long-serving justice, but the high court has delayed release of the materials, citing the pandemic.
The late Justice John Paul Stevens, whose tenure spanned 35 years, planned for most of his case files to be opened and "freely available" at the Library of Congress by October 2020. His arrangement with the library -- the details of which have not been previously reported -- covers cases up to October 1, 2005.
Along with the 2000 Bush v. Gore decision that continues to reverberate in election-law controversies, the trove would include documents related to two groundbreaking gay-rights decisions, a seminal University of Michigan affirmative action dispute and several post-9/11 Guantanamo detainee appeals.
The release of once-private files can help illuminate one of the country's most secretive institutions, even as the open files often spawn tensions among still sitting justices. The justices keep many of their procedures confidential and all their negotiations occur behind closed doors. Historians, law professors and journalists mine the papers to understand how the nine operate.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/23/politics/private-supreme-court-files/index.html
I honestly didn't know that the SC was "one of country's most secretive institutions." I thought everything was public.
ret5hd
(20,563 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,465 posts)turbinetree
(24,745 posts)Grasswire2
(13,575 posts)How can we the people consent to be governed when the most important information regarding elections and investigations is kept from us??
This is infuriating.
How can this be a democracy? Some elites are constantly hiding information, and then going before cameras to claim that the people have a right to know the shocking information.
And yet we never see it.
melm00se
(4,997 posts)but it also has quite a bit that happens behind closed doors.
The biggest of the bunch is the "Conference".
During the conference, it is only the Supreme Court justices and only the justices.
During this time, certs are granted (or denied) and cases are discussed and voted upon.
The details are secret but the end results are not.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,601 posts)Nothing says "respect" like keeping hidden the documents you agreed to release. What is the Court hiding?
PSPS
(13,630 posts)SouthernDem4ever
(6,617 posts)and in 2000 I remember the first budding set of seditionists taking a bus to florida to harass the election workers trying to do a recount. Thanks POS SCOTUS, look where we are now.
samsingh
(17,604 posts)passing secrets to russians in the oval office?
former9thward
(32,128 posts)The SC is an independent branch of government. The president has no authority over them.
samsingh
(17,604 posts)former9thward
(32,128 posts)Which is what he had authority over. Just as Biden does.
usaf-vet
(6,233 posts)... never see the truth.
When are we going to learn they CANNOT be trusted?
ancianita
(36,210 posts)When we get a safer Senate majority.
dchill
(38,603 posts)America?
Get real!
Bev54
(10,088 posts)with the case, in different manners, but all with the same objective, to stop the counting of the votes, will likely see these files remain secret.
Polybius
(15,519 posts)Thomas and Breyer are the only ones still on the SC that were there in 2000. Roberts was next but has only been on the seat since 2005.
Bev54
(10,088 posts)Justice Thomas, Kavanaugh and Comy-Barrett. Breyer was there as well but on the opposite side and I am sure would not hesitate to allow some sunlight. If there is something to hide the other 3 will not want it to be scrutinized.
Edit:
Kavanaugh, Comy-Barrett were lawyers working for the Bush side, I believe.
TheRickles
(2,099 posts)ancianita
(36,210 posts)Maybe there are good 'excuses' for releasing or not releasing documents, but they should always keep their word on release dates, regardless.
I don't know about anyone else, but I want this to be yet another reason for Congress to restructure the judiciary.
After we win in 2022. After the For The People or John Lewis Act is passed.
Right now, though, SCOTUS needs to hear the public and media voicing of doubts about SCOTUS' unclear vision of what is really happening in this nation, who is doing it, and the court's part in all of it.
C Moon
(12,225 posts)NCjack
(10,279 posts)BlueJac
(7,838 posts)It keeps reminding of that every year. Totally disappointed!
.
SoCalDavidS
(9,998 posts)MarcA
(2,195 posts)Just more evidence showing the phoniness of American "exceptionalism".
Maybe someone can do a Pentagon Papers type action or something Anonymous.
twodogsbarking
(9,904 posts)I feel like Al Gore would have been a tremendous President.
Polybius
(15,519 posts)His team would have used resources to better spy on Osama, possibly preventing it from happening. And with that comes no Afghanistan or Iraqi Wars. Think of all the money and countless lives saved...
Bayard
(22,219 posts)That's absurd!
Delmette2.0
(4,177 posts)Karma13612
(4,555 posts)More proof that the US of A is back-sliding on democracy.
Nope. More BS. Had enuf.
What would happen if we on the left stood up and finally said Enuf is Enuf??
crickets
(25,989 posts)Because court decisions from twenty to thirty years ago are so affected by the pandemic. Such transparent cowardice.
bahboo
(16,383 posts)DallasNE
(7,404 posts)Is that the essence of what they are claiming? In what way has the pandemic caused this particular deadline to be missed?
Kid Berwyn
(15,043 posts) DU, January 20, 2001
Merlot
(9,696 posts)So, they're afraid the documents will catch covid?
Nice go-to excuse - since everyone knows the dog can't eat that much paper.