Impeaching Supreme Court Justices: A Step Toward Judicial Integrity in the Digital Age?
In recent years, the Supreme Court has faced a corruption crisis that is out of control, according to a New York Democrat congresswoman. She believes it is Congress’s responsibility to protect the nation from this authoritarian capture and has stated her intention to file articles of impeachment upon the House’s return from recess. While she has not yet revealed which justices she intends to impeach, she has suggested in the past that Justice Clarence Thomas should be held accountable for not disclosing luxurious trips funded by Republican billionaires.
The recent court ruling on presidents’ immunity from criminal prosecution has raised concerns, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor warning about the implications of such a decision. Ocasio-Cortez’s impeachment attempt may face challenges due to Republican control of the House and resistance from some Democratic leaders, but it marks a significant step in increasing oversight over the Supreme Court. The court has been embroiled in ethics scandals and issued several conservative opinions that have overturned previous precedents, including the controversial decision on Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Impeaching sitting justices is a rare occurrence, but it reflects growing concerns about the integrity and practices of the high court in recent years. The last time a Supreme Court Justice was impeached was over 200 years ago, and Samuel Chase survived the effort in 1804. As such, Ocasio-Cortez’s move is significant and sends a message that Congress will no longer tolerate corruption within our judiciary system.
