Sotomayor's Staff Urged Institutions to Purchase Her Books

Documents obtained by The Associated Press reveal that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's staff has urged public institutions, such as colleges and libraries, to purchase her books during events she attends, resulting in at least $3.7 million in earnings for her since joining the court in 2009. The documents show that taxpayer-funded court staff have been involved in organizing speaking engagements to promote her books, a practice prohibited for members of Congress and the executive branch. While the Supreme Court does not have a formal code of conduct, this conduct raises ethical concerns and risks damaging the court's public standing. Sotomayor's publisher, Penguin Random House, has also played a role in organizing her talks and has had cases before the court in which Sotomayor did not recuse herself.