[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE SUPREME COURT ETHICS ACT OF 2013

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                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, the Code of Conduct for United States 
Judges is a set of ethical guidelines, created in the wake of judicial 
scandals, to protect public confidence in the judiciary. Yet 
shockingly, the Code of Conduct applies to all federal judges except 
those on the Supreme Court, our nation's most important legal 
institution.
  In just the last four years, Supreme Court Justices have been engaged 
in ethically dubious conduct at least eight times--conduct that is 
explicitly forbidden among all other federal justices. Yet, because the 
Supreme Court does not adhere to the Code of Conduct for United States 
Judges, they have granted themselves immunity from the standards of 
behavior that apply to every other justice in the land.
  The guidelines contained in the Code exist to ensure that the public 
has faith that judicial decision-making is based on the facts and the 
law, not politics and outside interests. Their intent is to uphold the 
integrity and independence of the judiciary by demonstrating that those 
meting out justice are scrupulous in staying free of even the 
appearance of outside influence or bias. Public confidence in the 
judiciary suffers when our nation's highest court appears not to be 
governed by the same clear ethics rules that apply to all other judges.
  The Supreme Court's greatest assets are its integrity and the public 
trust, yet the Court continues to operate without a binding code of 
ethics. It is troubling that the highest court in the land does not 
follow the same standards as the other federal courts, and it is long 
past time to address this shortcoming.
  To that end, today I am introducing the Supreme Court Ethics Act of 
2013, legislation to apply the Code of Conduct for United States Judges 
to justices of the Supreme Court. Formal adoption of the Code of 
Conduct by the Court would begin to restore the public's faith in our 
judicial system and help ensure the integrity of our country's highest 
court. Many of the Supreme Court justices were required to follow these 
basic rules when they were district or court of appeals judges. 
Accordingly, adoption of an identical Code by the members of the 
Supreme Court should not unduly burden members of that Court and 
certainly would not serve as any impediment to their complete and 
robust service on the Court.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation that 
will help protect the public's confidence in the integrity of our 
nation's judiciary.

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