In a recently obtained memo, it has been revealed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed concerns about higher compensation for justices more than two decades ago. The memo, addressed to then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist, sheds light on a conversation Thomas had with then-Representative Cliff Stearns in 2000 regarding his push for increased pay for Supreme Court justices.

According to the memo, which was obtained by ProPublica and The New York Times, the conversation took place during a flight returning from an off-the-record conservative conference in Georgia. Friends of Thomas mentioned that the justice and his wife had recently taken on the responsibility of raising his grandnephew, prompting them to seek advice on managing the new expenses.

During the conversation, Thomas reportedly informed Stearns that "one or more justices will leave soon" if there is no higher compensation. At the time, Thomas was earning approximately $173,000, which is equivalent to over $300,000 today. ProPublica noted that Thomas was among the least wealthy members of the Supreme Court at that time.

Stearns, worried that Thomas might resign, reached out to Podesta.com, previously known as Podesta Associates, which represented the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges. A former judge, David Hansen, who chaired the Judicial Branch Committee at the time, expressed surprise at Thomas's public comments, as the justice did not previously discuss the matter with him, as stated in the memo.

As a result, Stearns pursued the creation of a commission dedicated to studying the pay needs of Supreme Court justices and reporting back to Congress. The plan was for Congress to then hold a vote on increased compensation for the justices. However, this initiative did not result in a significant pay raise for the justices, as Congress did not act upon it.

The memo provides a deeper understanding of Thomas's financial concerns, particularly during a time when he was navigating the responsibilities of raising his grandnephew. Interestingly, it comes at a time when Thomas is embroiled in controversy over accepting undisclosed gifts and trips in subsequent years, leading to heightened scrutiny of the court's standards for undisclosed gifts and trips.

The Supreme Court recently implemented a code of conduct in response to alleged ethics violations by Thomas and other justices, aiming to address concerns regarding undisclosed gifts and trips. The revelations from the memo further add to the ongoing discussion surrounding the financial issues faced by Supreme Court justices and the need to ensure proper safeguards in maintaining ethical conduct within the court.

It remains to be seen how this memo will impact the ongoing dialogue regarding the compensation and financial ethics of Supreme Court justices.