Richard W. Painter
S. Walter Richey Professor of Corporate Law

Prof. Richard Painter to Minnesota Lawyer: "High Court Can't Police Itself"

Professor Richard Painter was interviewed by Minnesota Lawyer for a recent article discussing the current push for ethical reform in the U.S. Supreme Court. Professor Painter asserted that when it comes the ethical accountability, the combination of self-policing with lifetime tenure is a recipe for failure. Amidst the calls for accountability, the Court released a joint statement where they asserted that they will voluntarily follow the regulations set for lower courts', even though they are not legally compelled to do so. Commenting on the statement, Professor Painter stated, “That memo signed by all nine justices is saying basically ‘everything’s OK’ when they know it’s not. If you’re looking for an overarching theme, it’s ‘colleagues covering for colleagues.’”