SCOTUS officials to reportedly ask clerks for phone records in leak investigation
Supreme Court officials are reportedly taking an "unprecedented" step and asking law clerks to provide their cell phone records and sign affidavits as part of an investigation into the leak of a Roe v. Wade-related draft opinion, CNN reports per three individuals with knowledge of the matter.
Some clerks are apparently so taken aback by the requests for private data that "they have begun exploring whether to hire outside counsel," CNN writes. "That's what similarly situated individuals would do in virtually any other government investigation," one appellate lawyer told CNN, noting it would be "hypocritical" if the court prohibited its own employees from taking advantage of "fundamental legal protection."
Sources have also said that the exact language and scope of the affidavits and phone records requests are not yet clear.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Chief Justice John Roberts met with law clerks following the bombshell breach, "but it is not known whether any systematic individual interviews have occurred," CNN notes. The now-heightened level of scrutiny suggests officials have been so far unsuccessful in determining the source of the leak, which revealed the court poised to overturn federal abortion rights as protected under the 1973 landmark decision Roe v. Wade.
A ruling on the case at the center of the draft opinion — Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization — is expected by the end of June.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
ICJ ruling: will 'damning verdict' stop Netanyahu?
Talking Point The UN's top court has ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories breaks international law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Venezuela election: first vote in a decade offers hope to poverty-stricken nation
The Explainer Nicolás Maduro agreed to 'free and fair' vote but poor polling and threat of prosecution pushes disputed leader to desperate methods
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Fascism feasts on violence'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published