Democrats cite Jeannie Thomas and Mitch McConnell as reasons to impose a code of conduct on Supreme Court judges.

House and Senate Democrats this week introduced a bill that would force the Supreme Court to pass a code of conduct for judges, a move they say is needed to restore confidence in the conservative majority court that has been eroded by recent Republican action.

“The word unprecedented is starting to lose its meaning as we see more and more questionable behavior on the part of judges,” said Rep. Hank Johnson, of Georgia. “And public trust and trust in the Supreme Court is at an all-time low.”

Another Democratic contributor, Rep. David Cichillin of Rhode Island, has linked this erosion of confidence to a number of Republican actions and decisions over the past few years, some of which helped the Republican Party win a 6-3 Conservative majority in the court.

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“This loss of credibility did not happen overnight, but grew out of an increasingly partisan confirmation process that began with Mitch McConnell’s refusal to give Merrick Garland a hearing or vote extends to a clear conflict of interest caused by the work and defense of Jeannie Thomas. and includes last year’s leak of an extremist project of opinion against choice,” Cicilline said.

In 2016, while President Obama was in the White House and after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, Kentucky, argued that the Senate almost never filled Supreme Court vacancies in election years. McConnell refused to move Obama nominee Merrick Garland, allowing new President Trump to take that seat and two more during his presidency.

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Cicilline’s reference to Jeannie Thomas, the wife of Judge Clarence Thomas, is a clear reference to the revelation that she sent texts urging the Trump administration to challenge the 2020 election results. Thomas later told a House committee on January 6 that she regretted sending those messages, but Democrats argued that Judge Thomas should recuse himself from election-related cases.

Democrats cited McConnell’s work on judicial appointments and the activities of Judge Clarence Thomas’s wife, Jeannie, as reasons for introducing a code of ethics for the Supreme Court. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Some polls have shown a drop in voter confidence in the Supreme Court as it has become more conservative and issued rules such as last year’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade and give states the power to regulate abortion.

The Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, or SCRET Act, aims to address this broad range of issues that have been raised primarily by Democrats.

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The court would need to adopt a code of ethics and publish it on the Internet, and detailed standards would be introduced to determine when a judge should withdraw from cases. For example, a challenge would be required in cases involving parties who insisted on fairness, and if the judge, spouse, or minor child has received income, gifts, or other benefits within the past six years.

It would also place a “clear duty on the judge/justice to know” when they or their family could benefit financially from their case.

Rep. David Cichillin, DR.I., quoted Thomas and McConnell in a statement outlining why the bill is needed. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The bill’s co-sponsor in the Senate, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, MD, said these and other changes to the bill will help convince people that there are checks against “special interests … spending millions to try to trick the judiciary in their own interests.” service.”

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, DN.Y., added that the possibility of judges being influenced by lobbyists at public events is another reason for Congress to step in and demand a code of conduct.

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“Recent developments in court — whether it’s the unprecedented leak of a draft opinion, speeches at private events with parties to current cases in front of the court, or public appearances with political figures — all point to the need for a specific code of ethics,” he said.