Chief Justice John Roberts declines Democrat’s invite to testify earlier than Senate on court docket ethics 

Supreme Courtroom Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday declined an invitation to testify earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee on court docket ethics within the wake of experiences of Justice Clarence Thomas’ shut friendship with a Republican megadonor.

In a letter declining Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin’s (D-In poor health) invitation, Roberts famous that chief justices of the excessive court docket have solely testified earlier than the Senate twice up to now 102 years. 

“I have to respectfully decline your invitation,” Roberts wrote within the missive. 

“Testimony earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of america is exceedingly uncommon as one may anticipate in mild of separation of powers issues and the significance of preserving judicial independence,” he added.

Roberts additionally identified that testimony to Congress by the president of america is equally rare. 

“No President has ever testified earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee, and solely three Presidents (in 1862, 1919, and 1974) have testified earlier than any Congressional committee,” Roberts wrote. 

Alongside together with his letter, the chief justice handed alongside the court docket’s Assertion of Ethics Rules and Practices “to which all the present Members of the Supreme Courtroom subscribe.” 

Durbin mentioned in a press release on Tuesday that the Senate will tackle Supreme Courtroom ethics reform “whether or not the Courtroom participates within the course of or not.”

“I’m stunned that the Chief Justice’s recounting of current authorized requirements of ethics suggests present legislation is sufficient and ignores the plain. The actions of 1 Justice, together with journeys on yachts and personal jets, weren’t reported to the general public. That very same Justice didn’t disclose the sale of properties he partly owned to a celebration with pursuits earlier than the Supreme Courtroom,” Durbin mentioned Tuesday.

“It’s time for Congress to just accept its accountability to ascertain an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Courtroom, the one company of our authorities with out it,” added Durbin.

Earlier this month, Supreme Courtroom Justice Clarence Thomas confirmed reports by ProPublica that he had repeatedly accepted journey from rich Republican donor Harlan Crow over their greater than twenty years of friendship.

Thomas contends that he didn’t should report the presents on annual monetary disclosure varieties.