This, of course, isn't the first time a justice has in modern times received flak for political associations and comments. Usually, whenever a justice mingles with elected politicians, a discussion on judicial ethics is bound to follow. (Although Justice Stephen Breyer skirted major discussions on ethics after revealing in a 2010 interview with Larry King that he and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy would lunch together.)

In addition to the fire over the Gorsuch-Cornyn dinner this week, here are seven other times SCOTUS justices have been scrutinized for their political associations and comments.