So, Think Progress has a veryin depth look at Clarence Thomas’ conflict of interest problems and the comparisons to the Abe Fortas resignation in 1969.
I know that Think Progress is fairly left on the political spectrum and has a defined agenda, but nevertheless, the evidence appears to be mounting that the justice may have a problem on his hands.
Is there an impeachment procedure for removal of a sitting Justice from the Supreme Court? Or would the individual have to resign?
Yes they can be impeached and removed
Samuel Chase was impeached.
All federal judges, including those on the Supreme Court, are subject to impeachment and removal upon conviction. The last one to be so removed was Walter Nixon.
The only Supreme Court justice to ever be impeached was Samuel Chase, who was acquitted in 1805.
Resignation is an alternative, though that would be a decision for the judge concerned. It was the decision made by President Nixon in the face of his likely impeachment by the same process as that used for judges and other federal officials.
You could shot them; but that would be wrong. Which brings up my followup question; what is the highest level of judge that been shot (or attempted shot)?
You’re not trying to beat anyone’s high score, I hope.
Fortas resigned as well, I’m wondering if Justice Thomas has that kind of integrity.
Abe Fortas (Supreme Court judge) was probably headed for an investigation and possible impeachment and chose to resign instead.
Not a chance. He’d only leave if the writing was on the wall that he’d be facing likely impeachment. Not a moment sooner. Republicans will never allow an impeachment short of video of him axe murdering puppies in his office.
Not as long as a Democratic president is in office to appoint a replacement. So long as that is the case, killing puppies will be insufficient cause.
As far as I know, Robert Smith Vance, a Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (albeit by mail bomb rather than shooting). U.S. District Judges have also been shot and killed: John H. Wood, Jr. (shot and killed by Charles harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson), Richard Daronco, and John Roll. An assassin also killed the husband and mother of Joan Lefkow. I beieve there were also some prior to the 20th century, but I’m not sure who.
I don’t believe any sitting justices of the US Supreme Court have been killed in office.
There have been several federal judges killed in my lifetime, most recently Judge John Roll was killed in the Tuscon shooting in January. Three otehr judges were killed by disgruntled litigants: Robert Vance was killed by a mail bomb in 1989. Richard Daronco was killed in 1988. John Wood was shot in 1979, and Wikipedia says he was the first federal judge killed in the 20th century.
eta: what pravnik said
The last federal judge impeached and removed was Thomas Porteus, in 2010.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Field was shot at by a former colleague on the California courts.
Good God, that’s the same David S. Terry who earlier killed a US Senator in a duel. I had no idea that he also went after a Supreme Court justice. He was one sick dude.
[moderating]
Please remember that this is GQ, which is not the place for speculation, political potshots, or the furthering of any political agenda. Let’s stick to the OP’s question. No warnings issued.
[/moderating]
“Democrats are just playing politics with the court! So he kills puppies? How does that effect him as a JURIST?!?!?” 
Suuuuure.
From your link:
Tell me, does this analysis also apply to Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit? His wife was the executive director of the ACLU lobbying for same-sex marriage rights, and Judge Reinhardt sat on the panel that heard the appeal on the Prop 8 question. I believe (with no cite) that Ms. Ripston (Reinhardt’s wife) earned considerably more than a dime from the ACLU.