Ethical concerns arise as Justice Sotomayor's staff pushes for book sales at schools and libraries

Documents obtained by The Associated Press reveal that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's staff has urged public institutions, such as schools and libraries, to purchase her memoir or children's books, resulting in at least $3.7 million in earnings for her since joining the court in 2009. The documents show taxpayer-funded court staff performing tasks for Sotomayor's book ventures, which is prohibited for members of Congress and the executive branch. While the Supreme Court does not have a formal code of conduct, this conduct raises concerns about the misuse of taxpayer dollars and the potential for conflicts of interest. Sotomayor's publisher, Penguin Random House, has also been involved in organizing her book events and has had cases before the court in which Sotomayor did not recuse herself.