Senators Proposal For Supreme Court Code-of-Conduct

Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), have introduced a Bill to require the Supreme Court to create a New Code-of-Conduct for itself, after ProPublica revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas Failed to Disclose luxury Trips he accepted from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow and Money selling a House to him.

The Bill would require the Supreme Court to implement a Code-of-Conduct within One year, of its enactment into Law and Publish the New Code, on its website so it’s available to the Public.

It would further require the Court to name an individual to handle any Complaints of Violations of the Code, and give the Court authority to initiate Investigations to determine if Justices or Staff, have engaged in conduct affecting the Administration of Justice or Violating Federal Laws or Codes-of-Conduct.

It would Empower the Court to draft its own Code of Conduct, to preserve the Separation-of-Powers between the Legislative and Judicial Branches, thereby deflecting any Criticism that Members of Congress would be interfering in the Court’s Affairs.

“The Supreme Court Code of Conduct Act is a commonsense step to restore and maintain faith in the high court by requiring the creation of consistent, transparent rules like the ones that apply to every other federal judge across our democracy. The other two branches of government already have codes of conduct, it is only reasonable the full Judiciary should as well,” King said in a Statement.

Murkowski said the Legislation will address Public concerns about the Court’s impartiality amid its Declining Approval Ratings. “The American public’s confidence in the Supreme Court is at an all-time-low. Americans have made clear their concerns with the transparency—or lack thereof—coming from the Supreme Court and its justices,” She said in a Statement.

“It is critical the public has full faith that their institutions are functioning, including the judicial branch. The Supreme Court must demonstrate independence and fairness as they rule on the laws of the land—and any cracks in the public’s confidence will have damaging repercussions for the state of our democracy,” she Warned.

King and Murkowski discussed the Legislation last week after returning to Washington from a Two-week Recess, during which time Reports about favors Thomas, the Supreme Court’s longest-serving Justice, has accepted from Crow, a Major ConservativeDdonor, over the past Two Decades.

“In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton notes that the Judiciary can only be successful if it has ‘the esteem and applause of all the virtuous and disinterested.’ With trust in the Supreme Court reaching historic lows, I worry we’re getting dangerously far from this fundamental vision,” King said Wednesday.








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