Senators Demand Supreme Court Abide by Ethical Standards Similar to Other Government Branches

In response to investigative reports by Big Big News on the Supreme Court, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has called for the justices to align their conduct with the ethical standards upheld by other branches of government. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) emphasized the importance of establishing basic standards akin to those followed by other government branches, stating that it would instill greater confidence in the integrity of the Supreme Court. He made these remarks while attending the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, as part of the U.S. delegation.

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The Associated Press (AP) published a series of stories revealing various ethical concerns surrounding the justices’ activities. These reports disclosed that Justice Sonia Sotomayor, with the assistance of her staff, has promoted book sales through college visits over the past decade. Additionally, universities have leveraged justices’ visits as a means to attract financial contributions by arranging events with affluent donors. Moreover, the justices have undertaken teaching trips to attractive locations, with limited classroom instruction, sponsored by external parties.

These recent revelations follow a string of stories over the past six months that have raised ethical concerns regarding the justices’ actions. Senator Durbin, along with other lawmakers in Washington, has announced plans for a vote on legislation next week that would require the Supreme Court to adopt an ethics code. Although the passage of this measure is unlikely, it serves as a signal of discontent with the current state of affairs within the court.

Unlike other branches of government, the nation’s highest court operates without an explicit ethics code. Instead, it adheres to a set of foundational “ethics principles and practices,” as described by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Responding to the AP reports, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), also a member of the Judiciary Committee, referred to them as “powerful reports.” He regarded them as an incremental indictment of a Supreme Court seemingly unaccountable for ethical transgressions. Blumenthal stressed the importance of Chief Justice Roberts considering these reports for the sake of the court and the country. Failure to acknowledge the need for an ethics code, according to Blumenthal, could jeopardize the viability of the Supreme Court as an institution.

On the other hand, Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), another Judiciary Committee member, believes that the ethics issue should be left to the court. Cornyn sees the Democrats’ pursuit of ethics reform as part of a longstanding attack on the court by the left, which he believes undermines their accomplishments achieved through judicial action over the years. Cornyn stated that the Supreme Court is a co-equal branch of government and asserted that Congress lacks jurisdiction over it. He characterized the narrative of an out-of-control court requiring salvation from Congress as a false one.

Kathleen Clark, a law professor specializing in legal ethics at Washington University in St. Louis, remarked that the recent reporting exposes the extent to which ethics problems at the Supreme Court transcend individual justices. Clark described it as an institutional problem rather than an issue confined to specific justices like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, as previously highlighted in the media.

Reporting from Vilnius, Lithuania, contributed by Megerian. Additional reporting by Kevin Freking in Washington.

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