“I warn you, money is involved,” he emailed one ally. “Such a society starts with his one starting point, a donor, but it’s not as expensive as you might think.”
In return, Mr. Pryde, who has been secretary general of the association for many years, has shown favors to Mr. Schenk and other donors, won coveted seats in oral arguments, and met judges at association events. I arranged an opportunity to meet. In an e-mail exchange with Social Councilor Jay Seklow, who advocated cases involving religious liberty and abortion in court as lead attorney for the Conservative Center for American Law and Justice, Schenk said Pryde said Seklow was Seated at the judge’s table at the annual dinner. “Probably CJ’s table,” he added, referring to Chief Justice Roberts.
“My job was to serve members of society, and that was part of service,” Pryde said.
(Mr. Schenck told The Times that one of his donors, a social director, had given advance notice of the results of a high-profile birth control case after dining at the home of judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., the author of the book. Judge Alito and the trustees admitted sharing meals and friendships but denied discussing confidential legal business.)
Another special interest group is headed by the First Liberty Institute. It is a conservative non-profit organization that frequently litigates religious liberty cases before judges. The institute, along with its employees and donors, said that from 2012 to 2022 he donated $217,500 to clients such as bakers who refused to make cakes for gay couples. argued in court on behalf of On the liberal side, there are special interest groups such as the Boston Foundation that advocate for abortion rights. The Freedom Forum, which advocates for First Amendment rights, was also an important donor.
Phillips, the association’s finance chief, said he hoped Schenk’s explanation and subsequent scrutiny would not cause judges to distance themselves from the association. Similar non-profits preserving the history of the White House and the US Capitol.
But Gabe Ross, executive director of Fix the Court, an advocacy group critical of the court’s lack of transparency, has asked Congress for a small budget if the court wants to preserve its history. He said that it should be done by
