Sherrill Presses Chief Justice Roberts for Ethics Reform and Fights to Restore Credibility to the U.S. Supreme Court

Letter Comes after Reporting that Justice Thomas Accepted Luxury Travel and Substantial Gifts from Billionaire GOP Donor Harlan Crow and Others with Business Before the Supreme Court 

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) joined a group of colleagues who are former prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and judges to urge Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to establish an ethics counsel and independent investigative body within the Supreme Court. Sherrill and her colleagues followed up on an earlier letter compelling the Chief Justice to adopt the same common sense ethics standards that apply to all other federal judges throughout the country, especially following recent high profile allegations of ethical impropriety have come to light with justices accepting gifts from billionaire benefactors and individuals with cases before the Court.

“We write to follow up to our previous letter dated June 27, 2023, urging you to establish an independent investigative body and dedicated ethics counsel within the Supreme Court to restore trust and confidence in the institution. We appreciate your response dated July 6, 2023, but find it insufficient and unavailing, especially in light of recent reporting of additional serious ethics violations by Justices,” the Members wrote. “Accordingly, we renew and reaffirm our recommendations to address the Court’s escalating crisis of legitimacy. We have copied the Judicial Conference of the United States in the hopes that you will coordinate with that body to adopt appropriate ethics standards for the highest Court that apply to all other federal judges.”

This letter comes in light of recent, troubling reports that have emerged detailing extensive and serious allegations of ethical impropriety by several justices. For example, earlier this year news reports showed how for more than 20 years, Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury vacations and gifts paid for by GOP billionaire and mega-donor Harlan Crow, who had business interests before the Court. In addition to Mr. Crow, Justice Thomas took at least 38 other vacations paid for by billionaire patrons — often on private jets — that should have been disclosed or perhaps even prohibited. Furthermore, Justice Samuel Alito took a luxury vacation paid for by a GOP donor that should have been reported — and then, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Alito questioned Congress’ oversight authority over the Court.

Congresswoman Sherrill is also a cosponsor of H.R. 927, the Supreme Court Ethics Act, legislation that would tighten restrictions on financial conflicts of interest, establish a code of conduct for the federal judiciary, strengthen rules surrounding gifts, improve disclosures, and strengthen mechanisms for accountability for the nation’s highest court.

Congresswoman Sherrill prosecuted federal cases and advised law enforcement on investigations as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of New Jersey. She also served as an Outreach and Re-Entry Coordinator who created programs to develop trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.