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The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

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Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#21

Post by meepmorp »

boxed wrote: post #14
apozem wrote: post #10

This is a fine gesture, but it does not solve the fundamental problem that Supreme Court justices are an unelected super-government with lifetime appointments and zero accountability . The whole institution is absurd and undemocratic and, as Clarence Thomas has proved [0], ripe with opportunities for corruption. A non-binding code of ethics doesn't change that. [0]: https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-sco…

> and zero accountability They can be impeached?

Impeachment is a political solution, though. Conviction in the house is a simple majority, but removal from office (or other forms of punishment) requires a 2/3 majority in the senate. That's not going to happen in the current environment, no matter how unsuitable an individual might be for office.

It's accountability, but in theory only.

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#22

Post by alex_young »

boxed wrote: post #14
apozem wrote: post #10

This is a fine gesture, but it does not solve the fundamental problem that Supreme Court justices are an unelected super-government with lifetime appointments and zero accountability . The whole institution is absurd and undemocratic and, as Clarence Thomas has proved [0], ripe with opportunities for corruption. A non-binding code of ethics doesn't change that. [0]: https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-sco…

> and zero accountability They can be impeached?

Only once has a supreme court justice been impeached, and they were acquitted by the Senate.

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#23

Post by beezlebroxxxxxx »

This is an interesting attempt to ward off the growing skepticism of judicial supremacy in some groups. There is a fascinating struggle between judicial supremacy and constitutional supremacy in America with a long history. Obviously there are pros and cons to each view, and who is for or against one or the other often changes depending on the social issue at hand. I don't think a code of ethics will be very effective. A more substantial move would be to introduce term-limits.

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#24

Post by hermannj314 »

apozem wrote: post #10

This is a fine gesture, but it does not solve the fundamental problem that Supreme Court justices are an unelected super-government with lifetime appointments and zero accountability . The whole institution is absurd and undemocratic and, as Clarence Thomas has proved [0], ripe with opportunities for corruption. A non-binding code of ethics doesn't change that. [0]: https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-sco…

Agreed! I think the Supreme Court is crazy. Depending on the decade, the constitution may or may not allow segregation, gay marriage, abortion, or slavery. You have to squint sometimes and turn the document sideways.

Your guess is as good as mine what the current Supreme Court will decide the constitution says or doesn't say. And on some issues they take decades of latency to come to these decisions.

I do think it is insane that we allow this in the modern world. Not to mention all the self-righteous posturing of lawyers absolutely convinced this system epitomizes "justice".

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#25

Post by ihsw »

apozem wrote: post #10

This is a fine gesture, but it does not solve the fundamental problem that Supreme Court justices are an unelected super-government with lifetime appointments and zero accountability . The whole institution is absurd and undemocratic and, as Clarence Thomas has proved [0], ripe with opportunities for corruption. A non-binding code of ethics doesn't change that. [0]: https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-sco…

[dead]

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#26

Post by numbsafari »

remmargorp64 wrote: post #19
boxed wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and zero accountability They can be impeached?

By us?

SCOTUS impeachment is a virtual function from the electorate through their elected officials. Hopefully the receiver isn't a null object...

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#27

Post by ImJamal »

archildress wrote: post #11

Headline ought to be re-written as "Supreme Court forced to codify once-unwritten rules due to rampant abuse by Justice Thomas."

You may want to read the article since others have issues as well.

>Many of those stories focused on Justice Clarence Thomas and his failure to disclose travel and other financial ties with wealthy conservative donors including Harlan Crow and the Koch brothers. But Justices Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor also have been under scrutiny.

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#28

Post by virtue3 »

beezlebroxxxxxx wrote: post #23

This is an interesting attempt to ward off the growing skepticism of judicial supremacy in some groups. There is a fascinating struggle between judicial supremacy and constitutional supremacy in America with a long history. Obviously there are pros and cons to each view, and who is for or against one or the other often changes depending on the social issue at hand. I don't think a code of ethics will be very effectiv…

Agreed. The most "long term" effect a US president has is nominating supreme court justices.

I also fail to see how a "code of conduct" might change the way individual justices interpret the current constitution.

Worse yet, who is writing the code of ethics? Is it going to be a constitution v2? Constitution-lite?

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#29

Post by awb »

apozem wrote: post #10

This is a fine gesture, but it does not solve the fundamental problem that Supreme Court justices are an unelected super-government with lifetime appointments and zero accountability . The whole institution is absurd and undemocratic and, as Clarence Thomas has proved [0], ripe with opportunities for corruption. A non-binding code of ethics doesn't change that. [0]: https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-sco…

> lifetime appointments

The lifetime appointments are designed to put them outside of the scope of politicians and the need to run for re-election. I guess you could serve a single 15 year term with no option to rejoin the court.

> zero accountability

Supreme Court justices can be impeached and removed from office.

Re: The US Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics for the first time

#30

Post by jimbob45 »

apozem wrote: post #10

This is a fine gesture, but it does not solve the fundamental problem that Supreme Court justices are an unelected super-government with lifetime appointments and zero accountability . The whole institution is absurd and undemocratic and, as Clarence Thomas has proved [0], ripe with opportunities for corruption. A non-binding code of ethics doesn't change that. [0]: https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-sco…

Isn't that the strength of the institution though? If they were elected, they'd be fundraising nonstop for re-election and be far less concerned about their actual job.
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