By Tyler Cooper, FTC senior researcher

Supreme Court justices may not be bound by a formal code of conduct, but Ninth Circuit judges are, which is why we wrote to Judge Carlos Bea on Sept. 10 to urge him to decline a scheduled award from failed insurrectionist John Eastman (left in photo).

Canon 4 of the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges reads, in relevant part: “A judge should not participate in extrajudicial activities that detract from the dignity of the judge’s office.”

By permitting Eastman the honor of bestowing him an award this Saturday (Sept. 18), Bea would give credibility to him and his work.

Eastman spoke at the rally that preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol and has promoted lies and conspiracy theories regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Bea, an 87-year-old George W. Bush appointee, should not be lending out the legitimacy and integrity of the judiciary to folks lacking these qualities on their own.

The full email to the judge — as of today there’s been no response — is reproduced below:

Dear Judge Bea,

This is Gabe Roth with Fix the Court, a national nonpartisan group that advocates for greater transparency and accountability in the federal judiciary — policies like livestreamed court proceedings, updated recusal and travel rules, online disclosures and the like.

We have learned that you are scheduled to receive an award at a Sept. 18 event hosted by John Eastman and the Claremont Institute. However, we would like to bring to your attention that Mr. Eastman spoke at the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol and throughout last fall and winter perpetrated an exhaustive list of lies about the 2020 presidential election.

Due to these affiliations, Fix the Court believes that your appearance at this event would impugn the integrity of the judiciary.

We hope you agree and decline the invitation.

Sincerely,

Gabe Roth