Statement from Congressman Dan Goldman on Chief Justice John Roberts’ Announcement on Creation of Non-Binding Code of Conduct for Supreme Court Justices

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today issued the below statement following the announcement from Supreme Court Justice John Roberts about the creation of a Code of Conduct for Supreme Court Justices. This announcement follows months of pressure from Congressman Dan Goldman and fellow House Democrats with repeated requests to establish a binding Code of Conduct, to create an ethics counsel and independent investigative body, and to eliminate financial conflicts of interest. These requests came after multiple reports of unethical behavior by Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, which has caused faith in the Supreme Court to hit historic lows.  
 
“Although I appreciate that the Supreme Court now acknowledges that it needs a Code of Conduct to restore its credibility and faith in the institution, I am thoroughly disappointed that this newly-announced Code has no teeth and changes nothing from the existing status quo.   
 
"Without an independent investigative body, a neutral enforcement mechanism, and a separate ethics counsel to prevent conflicts of interests, this so-called Code of Conduct does nothing to hold Supreme Court Justices accountable nor does it begin the process of repairing the reputational damage endured by the Court in recent years from a groundswell of ethical and financial lapses.  
 
“The American people are not easily fooled.  The Supreme Court’s institutional credibility is at stake, but this new package of old maxims does nothing to restore it. Since Chief Justice Roberts clearly recognizes the need for ethics reform on the Supreme Court, I urge him to do it properly with a binding Code of Conduct that includes an enforcement mechanism and an independent investigative body.” 

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