Accountable.US Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting Religious Charter School Case Amidst Justices’ Conflicts of Interest

Washington D.C. – Today, the Supreme Court dismissed Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, blocking the creation of the first-ever religious charter school. The decision comes after last month Accountable.US research revealed Justice Clarence Thomas’ close ties to Professor Nicole Stelle Garnett, an architect of the case, who has been an advocate for allowing taxpayer dollars to fund religious charter schools. Given his close friendship with Garnett, Accountable.US called on Justice Clarence Thomas to follow Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s lead and recuse himself in the case. In response to today’s ruling, Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone released the following statement:

“For years, the Supreme Court has been mired in an ongoing judicial ethics crisis stemming from justices ruling on matters in which they have personal interests that come before the courts. It should be common sense that when someone close to you is at the heart of a case, you don’t get to weigh in. However, despite both Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Clarence Thomas having close ties to the activist at the center of this case – only one recused themselves. That should concern all Americans who expect Courts to rule without bias or conflicts of interest. While it’s good news that today’s decision upheld a core American value and fundamental freedom in the separation of church and state, this case underscores that Justices have a long way to go in adopting more ethical standards to restore trust in the highest court in the land.” 

In case you missed it: read Accountable.US President Caroline Ciccone’s op-ed on the judicial standard set by Justice Amy Coney Barrett by recusing herself in this case.

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