U.S. Supreme Court Justices are notorious for their unobtrusive lifestyles, keeping themselves out of the press, for the most part, and refusing to disclose information regarding their decision-making or feelings about a case. As they attempt to maintain a certain level of secrecy regarding their position as the most powerful judicial interpreters in the country, there is one aspect of their personal lives that has been difficult to keep quiet. Every year, the financial records of the Justices are made public, outlining not only the salary they bring in, but also their investments, income from side projects and various gifts received throughout the year.

Each of the nine Justices makes just over $200,000 serving on the high court, with Chief Justice John Roberts bringing in about $10,000 more than his colleagues. Beyond their modest salary, outside ventures have been notably more lucrative. With assets built from book royalties and wise investments, the majority of the Court’s members are considered millionaires, providing an interesting insight into the makeup of this distinguished group.

This year, with one veteran Justice on his way out and a nominee waiting for confirmation, the disclosures did not stop at the usual nine. Judge Sonia Sotomayor had her own finances examined this week, including an in-depth comparison to her potential colleagues.

Source: Law.com, New York Times

In the case of Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Company Inc., et al., the majority made a landmark decision (5-4) regarding the position of state supreme court judges in cases involving parties that have contributed to their campaigns. Although Justice Kennedy, for the majority, opined that not all contributions lead to bias, the amount of money in question in this particular case led to a strong feeling it could not be decided in a fair manner for both sides. State guidelines regarding when recusal is necessary were unclear in West Virginia, the state in which the case originated, paving its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Justices also determined it was not yet time to hear the Constitutional argument regarding H.R. 2401, used by the military since 1994. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, as it is more commonly known, was challenged on the grounds that it keeps openly homosexual individuals out of the military. As it stands currently, there is no constitutional right to serve in the military. It was this provision that individuals opposing the policy were hoping to have changed if the Court had chosen to hear the case.

Source: The Washington Post

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Twitter Network Critical for Disaster Recovery Operations
     A Twitter network helped Dr. Maurice Ramirez (ER physician and disaster preparedness consultant) and his partners (Red Cross and Loews Emergency Response Team) find supplies like water, gasoline, food, and electricity.  During Hurricane Ike, they also used Twitter to warn workers in Galveston that they needed to evacuate.  Now, he’s looking to set up a private network on either CollectiveX or Ning where agencies can post problems and solutions for one another. 

Finding Medical Care in Argentina
     Fellow Twitterers offered advice for an American woman living in Argentina whose husband became so sick he was unresponsive.  She learned that for $15, a doctor will make a house call, and that your follow up visit to the hospital will be easier with that doctor’s referral.

Finding Veterinary Care in Beirut

     A dog owner living in Beirut was able to connect with a vet who was able to advise her that the dog was having a seizure, needed to be in a dark room, and should be spoken to soothingly. 

Finding Raincoats for the Homeless
   Around 150 homeless people were waiting outside a shelter in California and it was about to rain.  A volunteer used Twitter to find out where he could get a bulk rate (immediately) on raincoats.  While he was on his way to the store, a follower blogged about the cause and raised $453 dollars – enough for over 100 raincoats.

Lawyers Using Social Media
Click here to read our previous story about how lawyers can user social networking sites.

Source: Mashable