Republican Senators Prevent Passage of Democratic SCOTUS Ethics Legislation

According to NBC reporting, Senate Republicans have blocked a Democratic Party bill that aimed to enforce a binding code of conduct on Supreme Court justices.

The SCERT Act, championed by Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., was brought to the Senate floor for consideration with the goal of ensuring that “the highest court in the land cannot and should not have the lowest ethical standards.”

Despite efforts to pass the bill through unanimous consent, immediate Republican opposition arose, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who argued that the legislation was unconstitutional and would undermine the court’s efficiency. He was supported by Sens. John Kennedy, R-La., and Mike Lee, R-Utah.

The SCERT Act proposed that Supreme Court justices adopt a binding code of conduct, establish mechanisms for investigating violations, and enhance transparency for recusal and gifts. It aimed to improve the court’s legitimacy and transparency.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., expressed concerns about the court’s diminishing authority and appealed directly to Chief Justice John Roberts to support the legislation.

The vote faced strong resistance from Republicans, with Graham suggesting that the bill was more about undermining the court than improving it. Kennedy implied that Democrats’ motivations were related to abortion rather than ethics.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized the Republican blockade, emphasizing Chief Justice Roberts’ duty to protect the court’s reputation and hinting at further actions if the bill was halted.

This vote preceded several upcoming Supreme Court decisions, including cases on presidential immunity for former President Donald Trump and the legality of abortion medication.

Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas have also faced scrutiny for ethical concerns in recent months, highlighting the need for structured ethics guidelines for Supreme Court justices.

It remains unclear if Schumer will attempt to bring the SCERT Act to a vote through the regular legislative process after failing to pass a similar bill last summer.