Fox has a brief story on the progress of the investigation into the leak of the Dobbs opinion, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Readers will recall that CJ Roberts appointed an internal committee headed by the Court’s marshall to head the investigation, but the investigation has been closely held. Progress has been rumored, but Gorsuch’s statement is the first public comment by a justice:
Supreme Court report on Dobbs leak coming soon, 'I hope,' Gorsuch says
Justice Neil Gorsuch said that he hopes the Supreme Court committee's report is finished soon
"The chief justice appointed an internal committee to oversee the investigation," Gorsuch said. "That committee has been busy, and we’re looking forward to their report, I hope, soon."
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Multiple sources previously told Fox News that the investigation into the approximately 70 individuals in the court who may have had access to the draft opinion has been narrowed. Sources say much of the initial focus was on the three dozen or so law clerks, who work directly with the justices on their caseload.
FWIW, there was a flurry of rumors a few days ago when CJ Roberts’ chief of staff retired.
This seems like a hopeful sign in a broadly political sense. Obviously the SCOTUS can’t get down into the political trenches in a partisan sense, but the Court has been targeted by increasing attacks from the Left that have called into question the long time constitutional status of the Court. This last term showed a Court that appeared determined to take on difficult issues and even to overturn long time precedents in order to revive the federalist vision of the Constitution. Addressing internal problems could fit in with a renewed assertiveness in a broadly originalist direction.
That's how our side reacts: hoping something will turn up soon.
You know, Mark Twain once made an observation that if the Congress had been there when God was on the verge of saying,”Let there be light”, we never would have had it! That’s exactly the way I react when I here someone up there is going to form a committee or open an investigation into something—-nothing ever happens but a lot of grandstanding, pontificating and preening. Followed up by the usual excuse, “Well, these kinds of things take time…..blah, blah, blah.” I would be willing to bet money if either their hides or their paychecks were at risk, that they’d damn well get it done in a heartbeat!!
If private industry worked the way DC does, we would all still be living in caves and hunting for food with a flint spear.
Justice Gorsuch, you’ll excuse me if I don’t hold my breath?