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- SCOTUS TERM LIMITS
- JUDICIAL ETHICS
Although most of our judges are beyond reproach, there still remain cases of judicial misconduct. Judicial misconduct occurs when a judge acts in a way that is unethical or violates the judge's obligations of impartiality. From 2008 to 2019, there were more than 5,000 cases in which judges resigned, retired or were publicly disciplined following accusations of misconduct. However, unlike all other federal judges, Supreme Court Justices are not bound by a code of ethics. Most believe transparency and ethics are vital to the integrity of the judiciary and keeping the public’s trust in our courts – particularly as attacks on judicial independence and the rule of law have become more common.
Advocates claim that, for decades, it has been apparent the federal judiciary operates with too much secrecy and too little transparency, endangering the public’s confidence in the impartiality of judges and justices. Recent examples include a former colleague of U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts' wife filing a complaint with Congress and the Justice Department alleging her work as a legal recruiter poses a conflict of interest at the Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas has faced calls to recuse himself on a number of issues and cases over the conservative political activism of his wife, Ginni, who supported overturning the 2020 election. One recent report describes a close relationship between Thomas and prominent Republican donor Harland Crowe.
It states that, for the past 20 years, Thomas has neglected to disclose his acceptance of luxury gifts and extravagant trips on Crow’s yacht and private jet. Crowe also paid the tuition expenses for Thomas’ child and bought property from him at inflated prices, including the house where Thomas’ mother still lives. Justice Neil Gorsuch, sold a massive property he co-owned to the CEO of a law firm that often argues cases before the court. Critics say that, given the historic misdeeds of our judicial system, we can only restore faith in our highest court by requiring Supreme Court justices to adhere to the same standard of ethics as other federally appointed judges.
Pending Legislation: S.325 - Supreme Court Ethics Act
Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Murphy (CT)
Status: Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Chair: Sen. Dick Durbin (IL)
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Advocates claim that, for decades, it has been apparent the federal judiciary operates with too much secrecy and too little transparency, endangering the public’s confidence in the impartiality of judges and justices. Recent examples include a former colleague of U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts' wife filing a complaint with Congress and the Justice Department alleging her work as a legal recruiter poses a conflict of interest at the Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas has faced calls to recuse himself on a number of issues and cases over the conservative political activism of his wife, Ginni, who supported overturning the 2020 election. One recent report describes a close relationship between Thomas and prominent Republican donor Harland Crowe.
It states that, for the past 20 years, Thomas has neglected to disclose his acceptance of luxury gifts and extravagant trips on Crow’s yacht and private jet. Crowe also paid the tuition expenses for Thomas’ child and bought property from him at inflated prices, including the house where Thomas’ mother still lives. Justice Neil Gorsuch, sold a massive property he co-owned to the CEO of a law firm that often argues cases before the court. Critics say that, given the historic misdeeds of our judicial system, we can only restore faith in our highest court by requiring Supreme Court justices to adhere to the same standard of ethics as other federally appointed judges.
Pending Legislation: S.325 - Supreme Court Ethics Act
Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Murphy (CT)
Status: Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Chair: Sen. Dick Durbin (IL)
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- I oppose reforming current judicial ethics policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader Charles Schumer (NY).
- I support establishing 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 by: 1.) Requiring the Supreme Court of the United States to appoint and fix the compensation of an Ethics Investigations Counsel who shall adopt rules providing for the enforcement of the code of conduct, including a process to receive from the public information about potential violations of the code of conduct by justices of the Supreme Court. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Dick Durbin (IL) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
- I support establishing 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 by:
1.) Requiring the Supreme Court of the United States to appoint and fix the compensation of an Ethics Investigations Counsel who shall adopt rules providing for the enforcement of the code of conduct, including a process to receive from the public information about potential violations of the code of conduct by justices of the Supreme Court.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Dick Durbin (IL) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
Donation And By Writing A Letter To Your Representatives
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Pledge Period - Opening Date
May 22, 2023
Pledge Period - Closing Date
May 28, 2023
Trustee Election - Begins
May 29, 2023
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