Congress designated corporations as “persons” in the Dictionary Act, passed in 1871. It is binding on federal courts, including the Supreme Court. Washington has the same law (RCW 7.96.020). As for Keith Jacobs’ letter (“Transparency is missing,” Our Readers’ Views, Aug. 16), I don’t believe that Mr. Crow (the billionaire) has any cases before the Supreme Court. But I think that, on balance, Justice Thomas should’ve disclosed his vacations, to at least save himself the public embarrassment.
But, back to corporations. The public perception is that corporations are big companies like Apple or Microsoft. However, the overwhelming majority of the millions of corporations in America are small businesses, with limited employees. Mr. Jacobs appears upset that they have constitutional rights. Let’s take the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures. The police can’t search or seize the property of an individual without a warrant, signed by a judge. That same right applies to a corporation. I’m sure Mr. Jacobs wouldn’t want any ongoing business to be turned upside down or having their records seized by the police any time they want.
