Scalia speech to new legislators faulted

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Some legal scholars are criticizing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's plan to speak to House freshmen about the Constitution.

He was invited by Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., founder of the House Tea Party Caucus and known for statements like calling Barack Obama "anti-American."

Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, told the Los Angeles Times Scalia had shown "exceedingly poor judgment." The Jan. 24 meeting "suggests an alliance between the conservative members of the court and the conservative members of Congress," he said.

But Bachmann's office said Democrats and Republicans alike are welcome to attend, and it is not unprecedented for a sitting justice to confer with the legislative branch.

The new Republican House majority intends to vote to repeal Obama's healthcare law next week. Legal challenges to it could reach the court as early as next term with Scalia helping decide its fate.

"Michele Bachmann wants the healthcare law to be struck down by the courts. ... This creates the appearance of partiality and undermines the credibility of the court," said Richard Painter, a law professor who was an ethics officer in the Bush administration.