Stange Bed Fellows

Some people (Leiberman and Leahy) are asking the Chif Justice if there seems to be a problem with Scalia going on a hunting trip with Cheney, while there is a case before the court involving Cheney.

That would seem to me to be a problem. Scalia, however, disagrees:

In a letter to the Los Angeles Times, which first disclosed details of the trip, Scalia defended his actions, saying they did not threaten his impartiality.

He said social contacts between high-level administration officials and judges "have never been thought improper" in situations where a judge is considering a case involving actions an official took in his "official capacity," rather than his "personal capacity."

Cheney is not personally liable in the task force case and would not face financial damages if he loses.

All well and good, except that this could hurt Cheney politically - and these days your political health can directly influnce your financial one.