SCOTUS 'Code of Conduct' Fails to Address Outside Influence and Corruption

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Phi Nguyen, Director of Democracy Dēmos, a think tank aligned with grassroots organizations committed to racial justice, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision to release a code of conduct amid growing calls for ethics reform:   

"The Supreme Court's newly released code of conduct fails to address serious corruption concerns raised in recent months arising from the conduct of Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Dismissing the growing demand for real SCOTUS ethics reform as a "misunderstanding" proves that the Court cannot govern itself in these matters. Given the ethics probe currently underway by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Court's toothless code of conduct is also conveniently timed.   

"Besides lacking a clear enforcement mechanism, this so-called code of conduct also does little to nothing to address the influence exerted over the Court by far-right billionaire donors advancing an anti-democratic agenda. SCOTUS ethics reform and the ongoing issue of money in politics demand the attention of our nation's leaders. We can't rely on the Court to regulate itself. Congress must pass a binding, enforceable code of ethics. As we've said before, justice adjudicated by our nation's highest Court should not reflect the whims of the highest bidder.