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Supreme Court Ethics Act
12/13/2023, 11:47 AM
Summary of Bill S 325
The bill outlines specific guidelines for ethical behavior that Supreme Court Justices must adhere to, including rules regarding conflicts of interest, financial disclosures, and recusal from cases where a Justice may have a personal or financial stake. Additionally, the bill requires Justices to undergo regular ethics training to ensure they are upholding the highest standards of integrity.
One of the key provisions of the Supreme Court Ethics Act is the establishment of an independent ethics committee that will be responsible for investigating any allegations of misconduct or ethical violations by Supreme Court Justices. This committee will have the authority to recommend disciplinary action, including potential removal from the bench, if a Justice is found to have violated the code of ethics. Overall, the Supreme Court Ethics Act aims to promote transparency and accountability within the Supreme Court, ensuring that Justices are held to the same ethical standards as other branches of government. By establishing clear guidelines and oversight mechanisms, this bill seeks to uphold the integrity and impartiality of the highest court in the United States.
Congressional Summary of S 325
Supreme Court Ethics Act
This bill establishes a new statutory requirement for the Judicial Conference of the United States to issue a judicial code of conduct for judges and justices of U.S. courts, including Justices of the Supreme Court. Currently, the Judicial Conference issues a code of conduct for judges of U.S. courts (but not for Justices of the Supreme Court).
To enforce the code of conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court, the bill requires the Supreme Court to appoint an ethics investigations counsel. The ethics investigations counsel must
- adopt rules to enforce the code of conduct, including a process to receive public complaints of potential violations;
- investigate complaints; and
- issue an annual public report describing the complaints and the steps taken to address the complaints.
Finally, the bill requires a Justice of the Supreme Court to publicly disclose the reasons for disqualifying himself or herself in a proceeding or the reasons for denying a motion to disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding.





