Ethics, Politics and the Law

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/opinion/01fri1.html?ref=ethics

After reading over chapter 15: Leadership Ethics, and then reading an article from the New York Times written this past June titled "Ethics, Politics and the Law" it was very clear to me that there is a huge disconnect between how Supreme Court Justices have behaved and the way ethical way leaders are expected  to behave.  This editorial discusses how Supreme Court Justices are making it hard for the court to maintain its legitimacy as guardian of the rule of the law by behaving like politics instead of independent, impartial Justices. Justices have involved themselves in activities that maks it less likely that the court’s decisions will be accepted as nonpartisan judgments, such as Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito Jr. appearing at political events. Also, the 82 rulings in the past term reveal the court’s fundamental inclination to the right, with the conservative majority further expanding the ability of the wealthy to prevail in electoral politics and the prerogatives of businesses against the interests of consumers and workers.  One issue that stands out in this situation is that Justices are not bound by an ethics code. Justices of the Supreme Court are supposed to be impartial from politics and anything outside their main purpose of serving as guardians of the law. Therefor, it is their duty, or moral obligation and responsibility to do the right thing and remain impartial from politics.   Justices are given life tenure so they are free to upset the powerful and have no need to cultivate political support.  Justices should always be tied to altruism, promoting the best interests of others and protecting the purity of the law.  Because the Supreme Court Justices have not made themselves 100% accountable to a strict code of conduct, and therefor appearing to be acting out of ethical egoism by not making decisions that are pure and legitimate to the law. The word "Justice" is in these professional's title and duty.  It is demanded of Supreme Court Justices that they place fairness at the center of their decision making and to not grant special treatment or consideration except in situations that demand it.  It is the Justices duty to serve others by fairly set law apart from all else and to put the plaintiffs and defendants welfare foremost in their rulings.  When leaders are dishonest with themselves and others about the way in which they are behaving, others come to see them as undependable and unreliable.  People can lose faith in what they say and stand for, and as a consequence, the leader's impact is compromised.  This is completely unacceptable for Supreme Court Justices because of the astounding impact they have on the United State's legal system.  These Justices must begin to address doubts about the court's legitimacy so that their rulings are seen as seperate from politics and 100% ethical. I ask that my team members review this article and give any insights on how they feel about the Supreme Court Justices actions in the past term.

Faith Gephart Elmore