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!