Chief Justice says Supreme Court is in the process of resolving ethical questions
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said Tuesday evening he and his Supreme Court colleagues continued to take steps to address questions about the judges’ ethical standards amid a barrage of allegations of misconduct and pressure from some lawmakers to tighten the rules. the rules.
“I want to assure people that I am committed to ensuring that we as a court live up to the highest standards of conduct,” he said. “We continue to look at things we can do to practically deliver on that commitment, and I believe there are ways to do that consistent with our status as an independent branch of government and the separation of powers in the Constitution.”
Chief Justice Roberts last month declined an invitation to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee, citing the “exceedingly rare” nature of such an appearance as lawmakers push for ethics changes at the court. A series of revelations about unreported gifts, travel and real estate deals between Judge Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire and Republican donor, has shocked the court, though all nine justices have defended their existing rules.
Chief Justice Roberts’ comments on Tuesday at an awards ceremony were his first comprehensive public reflections, he said, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the court has rejected Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion; endured the leak of a draft of the statement and failed to identify the source; and faced a barrage of news articles raising questions about the judges’ financial disclosures and challenged practices.
The chief justice accepted an award from the American Law Institute, named after one of his mentors, Judge Henry Friendly, a prominent appellate court judge for whom the young John Roberts had once served as clerk.
“The things that happen outside this room,” said Chief Justice Roberts, referring to the museum where the awards dinner was held, “would greatly disappoint him.”
The Chief Justice added: “There is a lot in the legal world that he would find abhorrent. Judges fell and yelled at law schools. Demonstrators outside judges’ homes, with marshal protection required 24/7.
If asked what was the most difficult decision he had to make in his 18 years as head of the federal judiciary, Chief Justice Roberts said, he wouldn’t cite a particularly difficult case involving the First Amendment, the death penalty or the separation of powers.
“None of them,” he said. “The hardest decision I had to make was erecting fences and barricades around the Supreme Court. I had no choice but to go ahead and do it.”
Still, he said relations between the judges remained collegial. “I am happy to say that no angry voice has ever been heard at our conferences,” he said.
“When I’m wandering the halls and see a colleague, I’m always happy to have a chat,” he said. “To be honest, there have been days when I don’t feel like walking the halls.”