Justice Gorsuch recuses himself from key environmental case with ties to longtime ally

4 comments

1. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch announced Wednesday that [he will recuse himself](https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/politics/gorsuch-anschutz-eagle-county-supreme-court/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit) from a case dealing with a western railway line after Democratic lawmakers called attention to the fact that a longtime ally of his could benefit from the court’s decision.

   The court’s clerk notified attorneys in the case in a letter that, in light of the Supreme Court’s recently approved code of conduct, Gorsuch would recuse in the case set for oral argument Tuesday. The letter did not elaborate on Gorsuch’s thinking.

   But the decision from the conservative Trump nominee comes weeks after a letter from Democrats on Capitol Hill argued that Denver-based billionaire Philip Anschutz – a longtime ally of Gorsuch – has a possible financial interest in the outcome of the case.

   The Supreme Court did not respond to a request for further information about Gorsuch’s decision.

   At issue in the case, *Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado,* is an 88-mile railway line connecting parts of Utah to Colorado. The line would be used to transport waxy crude oil to refineries. The legal question deals with the extent of the environmental review of that project by the US Surface Transportation Board.

2. Not before he had to.

3. So 5-3 instead of 6-3 . . . trying to not look like an illegitimate stolen unfit compromised billionaire groomed court.

   I guarantee the verdict was in before he ‘recused himself’.

4. Shocked… The new code of conduct is non-binding and unenforceable, and they essentially determine their own adherence. Does this decision bode well for future conflicts of interest? I have my doubts, but it’s something.

Comments are closed.