The US Senate has recently debated the ethics of the country’s Supreme Court justices. The debate centers on the need to impose a new binding code of conduct for judges, as they are the only category of federal judges that escapes an explicit code of conduct. The controversy has been sparked by revelations that some judges have accepted expensive gifts, such as flights on private jets and cruises on mega-yachts, prompting some Democratic lawmakers to call for the resignation of the judges concerned.
Justice Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court’s most conservative justice, has been particularly affected by the controversy, but he is not alone. His conservative colleague Neil Gorsuch sold a property in Colorado just after his confirmation in 2017 to a law firm that regularly litigates before the Supreme Court. These cases have led some to question the lack of a formal structure to define and validate the ethical standards governing Supreme Court justices.
Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation to testify before the Senate committee that is debating the matter. Roberts argued for the separation of powers and the importance of preserving judicial independence. Republicans on the committee have accused their Democratic colleagues of trying to discredit the court’s justices with this hearing. The Supreme Court’s popularity has declined significantly in recent times, and 58% of Americans believe it does its job poorly.