For Immediate Release

TAKE BACK THE COURT CALLS FOR A CODE OF ETHICS FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

Letter to Congress Follows Gorsuch Appearance on Fox and Friends

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (December 19, 2019)—Following an appearance by Justice Neil Gorsuch on Fox and Friends, Take Back the Court Executive Director Aaron Belkin sent a letter to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees asking that they immediately require a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices.

The Supreme Court is the only federal court without an ethics code. The code of conduct for other federal judges prohibits “political activity” and states that, “A judge should not allow family, social, political, financial, or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgment.” Appearing on President Trump's “favorite show" is a troubling demonstration of naked political partisanship by a Supreme Court justice that certainty falls into question.

“In joining the Fox and Friends hosts to market his book, Justice Gorsuch has vividly demonstrated the partisan consequences—and intent—behind the Senate Republicans’ power grab,” said Belkin. “His decision further blurs the line between political operative and impartial jurist.”

“Requiring the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct like that followed by all other federal judges should be a simple and noncontroversial first step,” added Belkin. “Legislation to that effect has already been introduced, and there is no reason to wait any longer to pass it.”

View the full letter HERE.

Take Back the Court raises awareness about the urgent need to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court to address the theft of the court by Senator Mitch McConnell during the Obama Administration. Without adding seats, Congress will not be able to restore the right to vote, ensure reproductive freedom, protect workers, halt our climate emergency, or pass new progressive legislation. Court expansion is the only reform that enables the un-rigging of the system and the restoration of democracy and that can be accomplished without a constitutional amendment.

Learn more: https://www.takebackthecourt.today/