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Friday, July 21st, 2023

With No GOP Support, Senate Panel Passes Bill Requiring Supreme Court to Adopt Ethics Code

Author:     Jake Johnson
Source:     Common Dreams
Publication Date:     July 20, 2023
 Link: With No GOP Support, Senate Panel Passes Bill Requiring Supreme Court to Adopt Ethics Code
Stephan:  

Finally, someone is doing something about the blatant corruption of the Supreme Court. It is not enough, but at least it is a start. And I think it is very notable that not a single Republican voted to establish a Supreme Court standard for ethics. It’s not surprising, however, since the Republicans have been working since the Reagan administration to rig the American judiciary so it favored the uber-rich who own and fund the Republicans

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) speaks during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on July 20, 2023. 
Credit: Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call / Getty 

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced legislation that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of ethics and adhere to stronger disclosure rules following a series of revelations about the luxury trips and other gifts justices have received from right-wing billionaires.

Led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act advanced out of committee without any Republican support.

In remarks ahead of Thursday’s vote, Whitehouse said he believes “the Supreme Court has been captured by special interests, much like a railroad commission in the 1890s might have been captured by railroad barons to decide things their way,” pointing to recent news that “six—six—politically-active right-wing billionaires have been paying household expenses, engaging in financial transactions, and providing massive secret gifts of travel and hospitality for at least two justices.”

“We are here because the highest […]

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1 Comment

  1. Rev. Dean on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 7:10 am

    It appears that the Supreme Court and ethics do not seem to be compatible in any way!