US: Supreme Court Chief Justice Says Court Considering Steps to Meet 'Highest Standards of Conduct'

United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said the high court is considering taking steps to ensure the nine justices meet a high code of conduct. This follows congressional scrutiny and reports of a conservative justice’s luxury trips and gifts.

On Tuesday, Roberts delivered remarks at an event hosted by the American Law Institute, saying that the Supreme Court is considering taking measures to make sure its nine justices “meet the highest standards of conduct” following the recent scrutiny. Roberts did not reveal what the steps were but also suggested that he is wary that Congress may pass legislation that could impose an ethics code for the justices.

Roberts expressed confidence that “there are ways” to make sure the nine justices are meeting ethics standards “that are consistent with our status as an independent branch of government under the Constitution’s separation of powers.”

This marks the first time Roberts has publicly commented on the matter following a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee that took place earlier this month on a potential ethics code for the Supreme Court. The high court is the only federal court in the United States that does not adhere to a formal ethics code. While Roberts did not testify at the Senate hearing, he sent five pages of information about the current judicial ethics standards.

The comments by Roberts also follow the heavy scrutiny on the high court following a report by ProPublica that detailed ties between conservative Justice Clarence Thomas and Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.

Crow rejected the request of the committee to detail the gifts he or his companies have given to Thomas, according to the letter seen by Reuters on the same day. The letter from Crow’s lawyers said the committee does not have the “authority to investigate” the Republican megadonor’s personal relationship with Thomas, citing that Congress does not hold the “constitutional power” to impose an ethics code on the Supreme Court.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin said Crow’s lawyers did not provide justification for refusing to respond to the committee’s questions. Durbin said that the panel will continue to seek answers.