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Legal scholars say there’s no legal provision prohibiting Supreme Court justices from sharing their opinions online or in speeches. The Supreme Court has maintained that the strict code of conduct that applies to lower court judges does not apply to them, but that doesn’t mean that the legal community looks favorably on justices making public comments.

“I believe those types of comments do considerable damage to the integrity of the court,” said Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law expert and a law professor at George Washington University who has criticized what he calls the “rise of the celebrity justice.”

11YO—Daddy, why do politicians talk about Eminem's domain?

ME—That's eminent domain.

11YO—Huh?

ME—Sorry, you only get one shot.
???? pic.twitter.com/9SVioHQCTZ

— Judge Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) December 31, 2017

Social media, he said, has not been a huge problem because of the generational gap. Still, justices have gotten themselves in hot water over the years because of comments made during speeches and other public statements.

Turley mentioned Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and late Justice Antonin Scalia as two justices who have repeatedly been criticized for sharing their political views. Ginsburg came under fire and ultimately apologized for her comments about Trump in 2016, and Scalia made public comments on President Barack Obama’s immigration policies and the legal rights of Guantanamo Bay prisoners during his tenure.

My three favorite chocolates—pawsitively:

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?? white
?? milk pic.twitter.com/eiMVPJDa1a

— Judge Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) December 31, 2017

“There’s no evidence that this problem is receding,” Turley said. “It has gotten worse every year as justices appear before large audiences and discuss issues relating to cases before the court.”

Judges, especially those on lower courts, largely steer clear from discussing pending or impending cases to avoid the perception that they’ve made up their mind on an issue, said Charles Geyh, a law professor at Indiana University and an expert on judicial conduct and ethics.

“Most courts have said be careful in the way that you deal with your online presence because you have a duty to uphold the impression of impartiality,” he added.

When you're tired of cornbread shaped like Colorado and Wyoming. pic.twitter.com/C8Owilw8Ok

— Judge Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) December 30, 2017

Willett hasn’t tweeted since joining the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals at the beginning of this year, but it remains to be seen whether or not his tweets will interfere with any potential nomination.

“The way justices have survived the gauntlet is by being as low profile as possible,” Geyh said, but he added that it’s unlikely this Senate would not confirm Trump’s nominee.

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