Note_VVB the_AT0 disrespect_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 Court_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 title_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 hearing_NN1 signals_VVZ a_AT0 foregone_AJ0 conclusion_NN1 that_CJT the_AT0 Justices_NN2 are_VBB corrupted_VVN by_PRP money_NN1 ._SENT This_DT0 is_VBZ a_AT0 running_AJ0 theme_NN1 of_PRF Mr._NP0 Whitehouse_NP0 ,_PUN whose_DTQ preoccupations_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 Senate_NN1 have_VHB been_VBN undermining_VVG judicial_AJ0 independence_NN1 and_CJC restricting_VVG the_AT0 First_ORD Amendment_NN1 rights_NN2 of_PRF private_AJ0 citizens_NN2 to_TO0 influence_VVI their_DPS government_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 already_AV0 has_VHZ a_AT0 rule_NN1 —_PUN 37.6_CRD —_PUN that_DT0 governs_VVZ amicus_NN1 filings_NN2 ._SENT It_PNP requires_VVZ that_CJT amicus_NN1 briefs_NN2 "_PUQ indicate_VVB whether_CJS counsel_NN1 for_PRP a_AT0 party_NN1 "_PUQ involved_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 litigation_NN1 "_PUQ authored_VVN "_PUQ or_CJC "_PUQ made_VVD a_AT0 monetary_AJ0 contribution_NN1 "_PUQ to_PRP the_AT0 preparation_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 brief_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP further_AV0 requires_VVZ disclosure_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ every_AT0 person_NN1 other_AJ0 than_CJS the_AT0 amicus_NN1 ,_PUN its_DPS members_NN2 or_CJC counsel_NN1 ,_PUN who_PNQ made_VVD such_DT0 a_AT0 monetary_AJ0 contribution_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Mr._NP0 Whitehouse_NP0 wants_VVZ to_TO0 go_VVI further_AV0 and_CJC require_VVB amicus_NN1 filers_NN2 to_TO0 disclose_VVI all_DT0 of_PRF their_DPS donors_NN2 ._SENT This_DT0 would_VM0 hit_VVI groups_NN2 on_PRP the_AT0 left_NN1 and_CJC right_NN1 that_CJT are_VBB n't_XX0 required_VVN to_TO0 disclose_VVI their_DPS donors_NN2 but_CJC have_VHB scholars_NN2 or_CJC legal_AJ0 experts_NN2 who_PNQ submit_VVB briefs_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 Chamber_NN1 of_PRF Commerce_NN1 and_CJC NAACP_NN1 would_VM0 have_VHI to_TO0 disclose_VVI all_DT0 of_PRF their_DPS donors_NN2 if_CJS they_PNP want_VVB to_TO0 file_VVI briefs_NN2 ._SENT This_DT0 would_VM0 deter_VVI some_DT0 filers_NN2 and_CJC thus_AV0 less_AV0 fully_AV0 inform_VVI the_AT0 Court_NN1 ,_PUN or_CJC it_PNP would_VM0 open_VVI donors_NN2 to_PRP these_DT0 groups_NN2 to_PRP political_AJ0 harassment_NN1 —_PUN from_PRP the_AT0 likes_NN2 of_PRF Mr._NP0 Whitehouse_NP0 and_CJC his_DPS political_AJ0 allies_NN2 ._SENT All_DT0 of_PRF this_DT0 is_VBZ almost_AV0 certainly_AV0 a_AT0 violation_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 First_ORD Amendment_NN1 right_NN1 to_PRP free_AJ0 association_NN1 and_CJC speech_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Supreme_AJ0 Court_NN1 ruled_VVN in_PRP NAACP_NP0 v._PRP Alabama_NP0 (_PUL 1958_CRD )_PUR that_CJT forcing_VVG donor_NN1 disclosure_NN1 can_VM0 chill_VVI such_DT0 rights_NN2 ._SENT Mr._NP0 Whitehouse_NP0 nods_VVZ to_PRP this_DT0 concern_NN1 but_CJC claims_VVZ that_CJT "_PUQ granting_VVG sweeping_AJ0 anonymity_NN1 protections_NN2 to_PRP all_DT0 member_NN1 organizations_NN2 ,_PUN including_PRP business_NN1 networks_NN2 like_PRP the_AT0 U.S._NP0 Chamber_NN1 of_PRF Commerce_NN1 whose_DTQ corporate_AJ0 members_NN2 face_VVB no_AT0 serious_AJ0 threat_NN1 of_PRF reprisal_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 public_AJ0 expression_NN1 of_PRF their_DPS views_NN2 ,_PUN simply_AV0 does_VDZ not_XX0 follow_VVI ._SENT "_PUQ In_PRP other_AJ0 words_NN2 ,_PUN some_DT0 groups_NN2 have_VHB a_AT0 right_NN1 to_PRP free_AJ0 association_NN1 but_CJC others_NN2 do_VDB n't_XX0 ._SENT Mr._NP0 Whitehouse_NP0 will_VM0 be_VBI the_AT0 judge_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 Senator_NP0 's_POS quote_NN1 comes_VVZ from_PRP a_AT0 Feb._NP0 23_CRD letter_NN1 he_PNP co-wrote_VVD with_PRP Rep._NN1 Henry_NP0 Johnson_NP0 (_PUL D_ZZ0 ._SENT ,_PUN Ga._NP0 )_PUR to_PRP the_AT0 chairman_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Committee_NN1 on_PRP Rules_NN2 of_PRF Practice_NN1 and_CJC Procedure_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 U.S._NP0 Judicial_AJ0 Conference_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 committee_NN1 writes_VVZ guidelines_NN2 for_PRP judicial_AJ0 practice_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 letter_NN1 says_VVZ "_PUQ we_PNP believe_VVB a_AT0 legislative_AJ0 solution_NN1 may_VM0 be_VBI in_PRP order_NN1 to_TO0 ensure_VVI much-needed_AJ0 transparency_NN1 around_PRP judicial_AJ0 lobbying_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ The_AT0 Amicus_NN1 Act_NN1 is_VBZ helpfully_AV0 attached_VVN ._SENT This_DT0 is_VBZ a_AT0 clear_AJ0 threat_NN1 that_CJT ,_PUN if_CJS the_AT0 courts_NN2 do_VDB n't_XX0 follow_VVI his_DPS orders_NN2 ,_PUN Congress_NN1 will_VM0 rewrite_VVI the_AT0 judicial_AJ0 rules_NN2 ._SENT 
