Watchdog Group Condemns Scalia Over Speaking Engagement

The Alliance for Justice, a legal watchdog group based in Washington, DC, blasted Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Thursday for accepting an invitation from conservative Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) to speak at a closed-door gathering later this month.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Scalia agreed to speak to incoming House members about the Constitution. In response to concerns that the event would be a way for the legislative and judicial branches to scheme of ways to combat the Democratic White House, Bachmann’s office told the newspaper that both Democrats and Republicans were invited to attend. A Supreme Court spokesman added that the meeting would be “bipartisan” and “open to all members of Congress.”

Nonetheless, Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron called Bachmann an “extremist,” and said Scalia’s appearance at the event “threaten[s] the integrity of the federal judiciary.”

“Justice Scalia should protect the integrity of the Court and cancel his appearance at this blatantly partisan, right-wing event.”

In its report, the Times noted that it is not unprecedented for sitting Justices to meet with lawmakers.