01 Mar 2006 Alito Practices Etiquette, CBS Reveals; Liberal Group Slams New Justice

According to reporting by Brent Baker at Newsbusters, CBS “revealed today” that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has sent thank you notes to people who have expressed support or good wishes to him, or who say they have prayed for him.

CBS believed it necessary to check on the propriety of such a thing, but an interview with a political science expert (why not with an etiquette expert?) concluded that ethics standards apparently were not violated.

Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Church and State (a man who claims “Bush’s base” wants “nothing less than a country that enforces fundamentalist religion by law”), however, told CBS the letter is “grossly inappropriate,” and said “This note strongly suggests that Alito is carrying out a right-wing agenda instead of being a justice for all.”

What’s right-wing, Rev? Praying or thanking?

Addendum, March 3, 2006: The Wall Street Journal Law Blog is hosting an online poll on the propriety of a Supreme Court Justice sending thank you letters.

Folks seeking Supreme Court-related improprieties can visit here — the story is how ABC’s Brian Ross smeared Justice Scalia; an ethical breach on ABC’s part for sure.