The conservative justice indicated support for a code of conduct similar to the one that applies to lower federal court judges.

Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett indicated Monday she would support a code of conduct for the Supreme Court in the wake of recent claims that some justices have fallen short of required ethical standards.

Speaking at the University of Minnesota Law School, Barrett said it would be “a good idea for us do it” and suggested that the justices are broadly in support of a set of principles similar to those that lower court judges are required to follow.

“There is no lack of consensus among the justices. There’s unanimity among all nine justices that we should and do hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards possible,” she added.

  • JonEFive@midwest.social
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    1 year ago

    SCOTUS is only considering this because there’s a chance that if they don’t, congress will. And if congress sets the rules, they also determine the punishment. The court wouldn’t want to permit that sort of check against their power.

    It would be truly interesting to see congress write a law governing the behavior of the Supreme Court. If the legislation is written properly, I think it would be permissable, but I wonder if the Supreme Court would just strike it down.