“The Justice is ever the subject of political headlines taking aim at his character, his judicial philosophy, his marriage, even his race,” the 112 signatories wrote in an open letter obtained by Fox News Tuesday.

“Lately, the stories have questioned his integrity and his ethics for the friends he keeps. They bury the lede. These friends are not parties before him as a Justice of the Court,” the former clerks continued. “We all saw with our own eyes the same thing: His integrity is unimpeachable. And his independence is unshakable.”

[They should know, right? — Ed]