
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 18, 1995                   TAG: 9505180056
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

BIG BUCKS ON THE SUPREME COURT

Five Supreme Court justices boosted their income last year by moonlighting as teachers, and most enjoyed reimbursed travel. But only Justice Clarence Thomas got $100 worth of cigars from Rush Limbaugh.

The court includes four - or maybe five - millionaires, according to financial disclosure forms released Wednesday.

The millionaires are Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sandra Day O'Connor and John Paul Stevens. Justice David Souter listed assets that may have crossed the $1 million mark.

Some justices traveled widely last year on reimbursed trips, usually for speaking or teaching engagements.

Justice Anthony Kennedy went to Paris; Salzburg, Austria; Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; London and Hawaii. Justice Antonin Scalia traveled to India, Australia, Puerto Rico, San Francisco and Naples, Fla.

O'Connor's trips included travel to Bulgaria, London and New Delhi, India, while Stevens went to Oxford, England, and Honolulu.

Four justices were paid approximately $20,000 each for teaching engagements at various law schools - Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, Scalia, Kennedy and Breyer. Ginsburg also got $5,600 for a teaching engagement in England.

The financial disclosure forms require judges and other high-ranking government officials to list the gifts and reimbursements they received during the previous year. The law requires family assets to be reported within broad ranges of estimated worth, but personal property and the value of a primary residence are exempted.

The chief justice's court salary is $171,500, while the associate justices are paid $164,100.

Ginsburg and Breyer, both appointed by President Clinton, are the court's richest members. Thomas appeared to be the least wealthy member.

Thomas listed a gift of $100 worth of cigars from Limbaugh, the conservative radio and television talk-show host. Thomas presided at Limbaugh's wedding last May at the justice's home in Virginia.

Thomas also was given a Super Bowl ring from the Dallas Cowboys - his favorite pro football team - and was flown by private jet to a Cowboys award dinner last July to receive it. And, he got a judicial robe worth $350 from Yale Law School.

by CNB