In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court quietly crafted its first-ever ethics code amid declining public trust and mounting controversies over justices’ conduct. While all nine justices signed the code, they remained split on enforcing it. Justice Neil Gorsuch opposed external oversight, arguing it could compromise judicial independence, while liberal justices pushed for a mechanism to ensure accountability.
The code addresses issues like recusals and outside income but lacks enforcement provisions, leaving justices to self-regulate. Critics, including ethics experts and lawmakers, have called for stricter measures to rebuild trust. Proposals range from involving veteran judges to creating an inspector general. Conservative resistance, however, frames such reforms as politically motivated attacks on the court’s conservative majority.
As the debate continues, with former President Donald Trump returning to office and Republicans controlling Congress, the court faces heightened scrutiny over whether it can truly police itself.
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