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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stated Sunday that she sees no “persuasive reason” why the nation’s highest court should not be subject to an enforceable code of conduct. This makes her the second justice to publicly support some form of ethics reform following a year of heightened scrutiny. In her first broadcast interview since joining the Supreme Court in 2022, Justice Jackson told CBS News Sunday Morning that it is crucial for judges to adhere to ethical obligations. “A binding code of ethics is pretty standard for judges,” she remarked, adding that she has “no problem” being subject to such a code. However, she refrained from commenting on specific ethics reform proposals introduced by Democratic lawmakers or supported by President Joe Biden.

Jackson High Court Ethics : Ethical Standards and Public Scrutiny

Justice Jackson's comments come after months of intense public debate over Supreme Court ethics, particularly following a ProPublica report in April 2023 that exposed Justice Clarence Thomas’ long-standing relationship with billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow. The report revealed that Justice Thomas had accepted luxury trips and gifts from Crow without disclosing them in his financial filings, sparking widespread calls for reform. Since the report, additional allegations of ethical lapses have emerged against Justices Thomas and Samuel Alito, prompting several Democratic lawmakers to propose legislation aimed at imposing stricter ethical standards on the Supreme Court. These proposals include requiring justices to adopt a binding code of conduct and establishing term limits for their lifetime appointments. Justice Jackson did not address these allegations directly, noting that she would not comment on her colleagues’ interpretation of the rules. Nonetheless, she emphasized the importance of ethical transparency for maintaining public trust in judicial impartiality. “People are entitled to know if you’re accepting gifts as a judge so that they can evaluate whether or not your opinions are impartial,” she said.

A Growing Call for Reform

Justice Jackson’s endorsement of an enforceable code of conduct aligns her with Justice Elena Kagan, who, in July, suggested that the Supreme Court could establish a committee of lower-court judges to review ethics complaints against justices. Justice Kagan acknowledged potential challenges with such a system but maintained that it is a necessary step toward greater accountability. Justice Jackson’s comments add to the growing momentum for Supreme Court ethics reform. With the court’s role in contentious political issues likely to increase as the 2024 election approaches, the debate over judicial accountability is expected to intensify.