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The Noble RenardGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:41am
God, I hate being “that guy” for a story like this, but getting cert denied is absolutely not any evidence of favoritism on Scalia’s part.

The Supreme Court denies 99.9% of all cert petitions filed, essentially. They only take 80-100 cases a year! If cert denials are somehow evidence of corruption, then literally every single one of the Justices is corrupt.

Getting cert granted is where there could theoretically be evidence of corruption, but even there you’d need to co-opt three other judges.

Edit: After looking at the linked case where cert was denied, definitely this isn’t a corruption thing. It was an age discrimination case that didn’t even make it past the summary judgment stage at the District Court level because the guy suing couldn’t even make out a prima facie case of age discrimination. So District Court dismissed, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the suit, and the Supreme Court just declined to step in.

Edit 2: Obviously the fact that Scalia was getting free trips and maybe not disclosing them is the bigger issue. But the cert petition is totally irrelevant to that.
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  SDIATEEMSTOGAF_enjoy!9595The Noble Renard
  2/17/16 11:47am
  You can be “that guy” by making an excellent point.
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  Bolivia Newton JohnThe Noble Renard
  2/17/16 11:49am
  Criminal culpability is like a Valentine’s Day gift: it’s the thought that counts.
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Low Information BoaterGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:30am
Well, he recused himself, ex post facto. No harm, no foul.
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  toothpetardLow Information Boater
  2/17/16 11:33am
  a gift from the ranch’s owner, who just last year obtained a favorable result from the Supreme Court.
  
  The system works!
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  Gene Shalit's MerkinLow Information Boater
  2/17/16 11:33am
  I’d say ‘too soon,’ but nope, this man was as crooked as a duck’s dick and it’s a shame it didn’t come 15 years sooner and with far, far greater agony.
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festivusaziliGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:40am
A case where the Court refused to grant cert is a pretty weak connection. It only takes 4 justices to agree to hear a case, and the vast majority of petitions to the Court are not heard (it grants cert on about 1%). It’s not like Scalia would have had to do anything.

At the same time, “I didn’t pay for the trip, I just didn’t charge him” is some weak bullshit.
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  The Noble Renardfestivusazili
  2/17/16 11:43am
  Yeah, I just made a similar comment.
  
  This is one of those things where a lawyer or someone knowledgeable about the court immediately knows that there’s no evidence of corruption in regards to a cert denial, but the average person could easily go “OMG bribery!”
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  festivusaziliThe Noble Renard
  2/17/16 11:48am
  I also saw someone else post about recusal, which, who knows, he could have done. Cert discussions and votes are not made public unless one of the justices writes a statement, which is rare. This is just a non-issue beyond the normal unpleasent chumminess between business and government officials.
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Dave Gabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:38am
“The male prostitutes and Colombian Marching Powder are amenities freely available to all guests of Cibolo Creek. He was charged, as usual, for the Mule, the Little People and Jackhammer. We are frankly offended at any allegations of impropriety.” a representative told reporters today.
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  Icecold DavisDave
  2/17/16 12:15pm
  This comment needs more complimentary cocaine in lieu of a mint at each night’s turndown service.
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  TrumptyDumptyhadagreatfallDave
  2/17/16 12:59pm
  What about the inordinate amount of cucumbers purchased? That was probably going over the line as well. Where’s that in the fucking receipt?
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Cherith CutestoryGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:33am
If he could get cert denied on a SCOTUS case in his favor for just one trip to a ranch I can’t even imagine what he is getting from Obama in exchange for murdering a Supreme Court Justice.
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  UnaCherith Cutestory
  2/17/16 11:39am
  He’s one of the takers now!
  
  I bet he got a free government cell phone. And some cheese. I think the government gives you cheese.
  
  (Note to Guvment Obama: No Swiss cheese please. I don’t like Swiss.
  
  I suppose they only have American cheese though? Never mind.)
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  adjoiajdiojadiojaoidjaCherith Cutestory
  2/17/16 12:00pm
  this is a good joke
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BoudicaGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:40am
Pointdexter might have paid for the trip, but he sure as hell didn’t charge Scalia. He might not have been treated differently than the other 35 people, but it is still a conflict of interest. If anyone lower in the government has been put in this situation, they would have had to turn the trip down because it causes the perception of favoritism and unethical behavior. My office received cookies from a contractor for Christmas, and there was a bit of whether or not we should accept them.
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  Monsterparty711Boudica
  2/17/16 12:03pm
  This. I work in HR for the Federal Government and we weren’t even allowed to attend an informational breakfast hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield as it would give the appearance of favoring their plan over the others available. Next year I will recommend that BCBS rent out a ranch and as long as they pay for everyone and open season has ended......
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  BoudicaMonsterparty711
  2/17/16 12:04pm
  Precedent has been set. They now can rent out the ranch as long as there are at least 35 people, and no one pays for anything!
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jonhernGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:33am
Does one judge get to decline a case, was scalia or one of the other conservative justices he might have sway over the one to decline to hear it?
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  Cherith Cutestoryjonhern
  2/17/16 11:43am
  No. It takes at least four justices to grant cert, which means at least six justices didn’t think this case had any merit. Most cases are denied. This isn’t really a thing.
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  jonhernCherith Cutestory
  2/17/16 11:46am
  Yeah, I think the bigger part is this “friend” with him on the trip on Valentine’s day.
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NefertittiesGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:35am
Well, this is not quite the coke binge and dead hooker scenario I would have expected, but I’ll take it.
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  Voltaire CrescentNefertitties
  2/17/16 11:41am
  Don’t go all negative nancy yet, someone may still come through with the details of the 34 hookers who also got room and board for free.
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Mrs. LangfordGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:45am
Didn’t the justices and their clerks and families just get back from Asia and wasn’t the press all over some pic showing that Ruth Ginsberg and Scalia were buds because they rode an elephant together on a different Asia trip? Wtf are they going to Asia for, who’s paying for that? All Scalia needed was a copy of the constitution, not a world view paid for by taxpayers.
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  Cherith CutestoryMrs. Langford
  2/17/16 12:04pm
  Ginsburg and Scalia are longtime friends (going back to their time on the DC Circuit) and I believe their trip to India, elephant picture, was a personal one with their spouses from years ago.
  
  His recent trip to Asia was promoting his recent book with Bryan Garner.
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  whatevereverafterCherith Cutestory
  2/17/16 12:35pm
  But they don’t have the same politics! That means you can’t be friends, right? You’re OBLIGATED to be dicks to each other!
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Richard M TysonGabrielle Bluestone
2/17/16 11:43am
Was his friend Colonel Mustard? Because I think I may have figured something out.
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  opiumsmabytchRichard M Tyson
  2/17/16 11:47am
  
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