Eminent Domain

The latest round of financial disclosure reports give us an interesting look at the travel habits of the Supreme Court Justices. So who is going where? Let's take a look at the newbies...

Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, both nominated last year, accepted free trips just twice last year. The trips were sponsored by universities and were made before Roberts and Alito were picked by President Bush. Roberts taught a law school class in London last July, shortly before his nomination to the high court.

And now for the other Justices...

Kennedy visited Thailand for a meeting of Asian judges, lectured at Hong Kong University, taught a course in Salzburg, Austria, and attended an American Bar Association meeting in Prague, Czech Republic.

Breyer was in Paris for an ABA event, took part in a project on terrorism and the law in Bellagio, Italy, lectured in Melbourne, Australia, and attended events in Bordeaux, France, and Jerusalem. Closer to home, he spoke in Boston and Des Moines, Iowa.

Among the other justices' travel: Justice John Paul Stevens took a trip to Chicago to throw out the first pitch of a Cubs game and speak to a group of lawyers, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke at West Virginia University in Morgantown and the University of Kansas in Lawrence and Justice Clarence Thomas taught at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

Once again, Justice David H. Souter was the least-traveled justice. He reported one trip, to Harvard Law School. Souter took no paid trips the previous two years.

Not included was Justice Antonin Scalia, who was granted permission to file his information late. Scalia reported taking 15 trips in 2004, including to Japan, New Zealand and Greece.

Oh, that Justice Souter, such a recluse. I've never actually seen a recording of him give a speech. The coolest trip is easily Justice Stevens throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field. Not bad for an octogenarian.