Reply #16: I think he's saying this was done w/o his knowledge or consent. [View All]

[Occulus]

If that's the case, well... I hate to do it, but I'd have to give him props for it. That is a demonstration of ethical behavior. Now if, on the other hand, it came out the Federal officials present had standing orders from him to confiscate recordings, well... it would look very bad indeed.

edited to add:

from http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-04-12-scalia-usat_x.htm

Scalia now says he is changing his policy of forbidding newspaper reporters from recording his speeches. He apparently is sticking to his ban on audio or video recordings for radio or television.

Scalia also wrote to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which had criticized the marshal's action. He said it "was not taken at my direction."

In his April 9 letter to Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee, the justice said, "I was as upset as you were. I have written to the reporters involved, extending my apology."

I'm not defending Scalia in general; just this one specific decision. I still believe he's compromised the integrity of the SCOTUS as well as his own impartiality in the Cheney case re the energy task force, and I don't stand with him at all ideaologically (sp?).