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  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
  1. Signatures
    198 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. Senate (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
  2. Created By
    Alliance for Justice
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

We expect our courts to be impartial and independent – it’s essential to the public’s faith in the judicial system. That’s why federal judges must adhere to a Code of Conduct that requires judges to “act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary" and explicitly bans political activity.

Shockingly, these rules do not apply to the Supreme Court.

More than 130 ethics and professional responsibility law professors have signed a letter to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, calling for Congressional hearings to examine this issue and for legislation that would close the gap between the ethical standards applied to lower court judges and Supreme Court justices. Congressman Chris Murphy of Connecticut has introduced a bill that would close this ethics loophole.

And most recently, Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron outlined the case for reform in the Washington Post.

Supreme Court justices should not be above ethical rules. Join us and tell your representatives in Congress that the same rules that apply to all other federal judges should apply to Supreme Court justices!

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Hold Supreme Court justices to the same ethical standards as other federal judges

Greetings,

Like most Americans, I hope that if I ever have to set foot in a courtroom, my case will be heard by a fair, impartial judge who adheres to the highest possible ethical standards. Unfortunately, our country's highest court has never adopted the same set of ethics rules other federal judges follow.

That's why I'm asking you to call for Congressional hearings and support HR 862 as introduced by Congressman Chris Murphy, which would close this ethics loophole.

Supreme Court justices serve a lifetime appointment, and they're entrusted with far-reaching authority over the lives of everyday Americans. It's not too much to ask that these powerful judges have to follow the same rules as every other federal judge in America.

Please

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