Christian Minister Testifies He Was Involved in Efforts to Influence Supreme Court

• An evangelical Christian minister testified that he was involved with an effort to influence Supreme Court justices’ thoughts.
• Robert Schenck revealed to a congressional panel he was aware of a Supreme Court ruling from 2014.
• Democrats are pushing for a bill which would require the justices establish a code. 

A testimony by an evangelical Christian minister was made before a congressional panel Thursday. He said that he had been involved for almost two decades in an effort to influence some Supreme Court conservative justices.

Robert Schenck was an anti-abortion activist who told the House Judiciary Committee he had participated in prayer sessions with some court’s conservative justices and recruited “stealth ministers” to build relationships. He also learned the outcome for a closely watched 2014 Supreme Court Case before it was released. 

Schenck stated that “I believe we pushed boundaries of Christian ethics” and included the high court’s promise of equal justice. Justice Thomas complimented me in one instance and said something like, Keep up what’s happening, it’s making the difference.

Thursday’s hearing was entitled “Undue influence: Operation Higher Court, Politicking at SCOTUS.” This hearing came after Schenck’s allegations were recently covered in Politico, Rolling Stone, The New York Times.

The New York TimesThe report was centered on Schenck’s claims that he knew the outcome of Burwell V. Hobby Lobby Stores, which is a case involving religious rights and reproductive healthcare. The conservative Justice Samuel Alito authored the opinion in which the 5-4 majority ruled contraception insurance was not allowed to be paid for.

Schneck claimed that he was informed about the decision by Gayle Wright, who, along with her husband Donald were among the “stealth missionsaries” Schneck helped recruit. Schneck stated that the decision was made during a dinner with Alito. Gayle Wright and Alito denied the allegations. 

Democratic lawmakers are calling for renewed calls for the Supreme Court justices’ adherence to an ethics code. Unlike lower federal court judges who are bound by a code, the justices are not bound by one and have not adopted a similar code.

“The court cannot, or won’t, do what is in their best interests,” Rep. Hank Johnson from Georgia, who’s leading the bill that would establish a code for conduct for the justices, said during an hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. “Therefore, Congress should step in.”

The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which is also called the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, seeks to increase transparency and promote accountability for justices by requiring them write and enforce an ethical code of conduct and to disclose financial information about gifts and income received from outside parties. 

Schneck’s claims have been questioned by critics. Thursday’s hearing saw another witness, Mark Paoletta (lawyer), slam Schneck and claim that his claims are unfounded. The comments of Schneck were also scrutinized by the Republicans on the committee, including Ohio’s ranking member Rep. Jim Jordan. 

Paoletta, a former Justice Thomas clerk, told the committee that “I don’t believe a word Mr. Schneck says.”