US Supreme Court ethics are under scrutiny in Congress

Formerly one of the nation’s most revered institutions, the American legal temple — settling important social debates like the death penalty or abortion — is seeing its star fade.

Appointed for life, its nine judges are the only federal judges to escape explicit conduct rules — an exception that was scrutinized during a parliamentary hearing.

” There should be no weak ethical rules in the Supreme Court of the country. »

If a parliamentary inquiry into the Supreme Court’s ethics is unusual, it is also rarely the focus of much controversy.

Starting in the top row, from left to right, are US Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts (Chief Justice), Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor.

Photo: Getty Images/AFP/ERIN SCHAFF

Clarence Thomas, one of the court’s most conservative justices, was caught in the storm when ProPublica media revealed that he had accepted expensive gifts, including trips on private jets or mega-yachts, from Republican billionaire Harlan Crowe, unannounced.

Some elected Democrats have called for it Resign immediately.

He assured that the rules governing notifications surrounding these types of stays have changed and Mr Kagam has no case pending in the Supreme Court.

Another example

Clarence Thomas was not the only judge to catch the eye.

Fellow conservative Neil Gorsuch sold a large Colorado property to Greenberg Drury, a law firm executive who continues to litigate at the high court, after the Supreme Court’s confirmation in 2017, Politico reported.

” The absence of a formal framework for defining and validating the ethical rules governing Supreme Court judges is indefensible. »

Controlled by Democrats, the commission invited Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, to testify. But the judge refused Concerns related to separation of powers and the importance of protecting the independence of the judiciary.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Photo: Getty Images/Senate Television Service

Republicans on the commission accused their fellow Democrats of trying contempt Court judges, whose appointments are verified by the Senate, with this inquiry.

Democrats should sue the yeep-yeah club and move onCalled Senator John F. Kennedy of Louisiana.

A chaotic year

All this confusion comes after a tumultuous year for the Supreme Court.

It repealed constitutional protections for abortion, limited the federal government’s means of fighting global warming, or strengthened the right to bear arms.

The company also suffered an unprecedented leak. His ruling on abortion, which allowed about 15 states to ban it, was obtained by Politico before it was published — as recently as a year ago.

Its popularity has plummeted: 58% of Americans think it’s doing a bad job.

Dick Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted in a letter inviting the Supreme Court chief to testify. Revelations about judges not respecting expected ethical rules [n’avaient] stopped proliferating.

John Roberts had attached to his reply a copy of the Supreme Court’s Ethical Guidelines and a statement signed by nine experts. Basic ethical principles and practices.