The Supreme Court has implemented an official set of rules for conduct in response to criticism regarding ethical practices.
Washington – On Monday, all nine justices of the Supreme Court signed a code of conduct, setting formal rules following several months of deliberation.
The court’s ethical practices were under thorough examination..
The updated set of rules for behavior now consists of five principles which the justices must follow. These principles include maintaining the integrity and independence of the judicial system and refraining from any improper behavior or actions that may give the appearance of impropriety.
The implementation of the new policy is uncertain. While it is based on the conduct guidelines for lower court federal judges, the Supreme Court explained in a “commentary” accompanying their ethical standards that the policy is specifically designed for the Court’s role as the leader of one branch of our three-part government.
revealing travel arrangements and vacations that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted from Harlan Crow, a Texas real estate developer and GOP donor, over the course of their 25-year friendship. Thomas did not disclose the travel on his annual financial disclosure forms, but said he did not believe
He had to complete the task with exceptions for personal hospitality.
The news outlet discovered that Justice Samuel Alito took a lavish fishing excursion in Alaska in 2008, courtesy of Republican contributor Paul Singer. He also received accommodations from Robin Arkley III, the proprietor of a mortgage firm in California. However, Alito did not disclose the trip, arguing that it did not need to be reported due to personal hospitality exceptions.
There has been controversy surrounding Justice Sonia Sotomayor due to a report from the Associated Press stating that her court staff encouraged public institutions to buy her books, and she did not excuse herself from copyright cases involving her book publisher.
After learning about the connections between Thomas and Alito and their wealthy supporters, the Senate Judiciary Committee launched a probe into the ethical standards of the Supreme Court. Senator Durbin invited Chief Justice John Roberts to provide testimony and has consistently urged him to address the issue. He also cautioned that Congress would intervene if the Supreme Court did not establish a mandatory code of conduct.
Roberts rejected the senators’ invitation to attend, but did submit a three-page “Statement of Ethics Principles and Practices” to the Judiciary panel in April, which was signed by all nine justices. However, this statement did not alleviate the worries of Senate Democrats. During the summer, the Judiciary Committee received notification.
Progressed based on political affiliations.
Proposed laws that aimed to make the Supreme Court adopt a code of ethics that could be enforced.
said that they were considering an ethics code.
A few of the judges mentioned in public speeches that they were discussing an ethics code. Judges Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Elena Kagan all stated that they were contemplating implementing an ethics code.separately suggested
They supported implementing those regulations.
Melissa Quinn
Source: cbsnews.com