Hey Montana: Can a Supreme Court Justice Be Impeached?
Monday I heard of the United States Supreme Court decision in Trump v United States that a President has some immunity from prosecution for actions in an official capacity.
The ink had barely dried on the Court explanations when New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threatened in a social media post that she will file articles of impeachment against some of the Justices.
"The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control. Today's ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture. I intend on filing articles of impeachment upon our return."
At first I just shook my head at this, then I asked myself the question. Can a SCOTUS Justice be impeached?
When unsure, check the U.S. Constitution:
Article II, Section 4:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
The answer is Yes. AOC can file articles of impeachment. Supreme Court Justices are civil Officers and therefore not protected from this action.
Does the Montana Constitution have a similar article? Yes, in Article VII, the Judiciary, Section 11, with the creation of a Judicial Standards Commission and their power to:
(b) Censure, suspend, or remove any justice or judge for willful misconduct in office, willful and persistent failure to perform his duties, violation of canons of judicial ethics adopted by the supreme court of the state of Montana, or habitual intemperance.
Now that I have researched and documented that AOC can target the Supreme Court Justices, I have just one question for her.
What're the High Crimes in this case?
"Um...um..."
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