Justices’ proper place wasn’t at Koch gatherings

It’s not surprising that Charles and David Koch, the executives of Wichita-based Koch Industries, might have wanted conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas to speak at Federalist Society dinners scheduled around the Kochs’ private meetings of elite conservative leaders in California. But it’s disconcerting that Scalia and Thomas would have seen no problem in being associated with the annual meetings, which are intended, according to this year’s invitation, “to review strategies for combating the multitude of public policies that threaten to destroy America as we know it.” Those honored with the responsibility to sit on the Supreme Court should be more careful about the company they keep, especially when invitations come in from people, businesses and groups keenly interested in swaying the court to their way of thinking.