Chief Justice John Roberts told Dem Senators to pound sand and declined an invitation from a high-ranking Democratic senator to testify at a congressional hearing on ethics rules for members of the Court.
Roberts overruled Illinois Senator Dick Durbing and said if he came it would pose a threat to judicial independence.
Roberts wrote: “Testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee by the Chief Justice of the United States is exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence.”
Durbin said, “I am surprised that the Chief Justice’s recounting of existing legal standards of ethics suggests current law is adequate and ignores the obvious.
“The actions of one Justice, including trips on yachts and private jets, were not reported to the public.
“That same Justice failed to disclose the sale of properties he partly owned to a party with interests before the Supreme Court.
“It is time for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it.
“Make no mistake: Supreme Court ethics reform must happen when the Court participates in the process or not.”
Gabe Roth, of the judicial watchdog group Fix the Court, said in a statement: “Make no mistake: Roberts’ statement is nowhere near an appropriate response to the ethical failures of the current Court.
“Roberts here is demonstrating a profound ineptitude to rise to the occasion, and our country is worse for it.”
Breaking: #SCOTUS Chief Justice Roberts declines Senator Durbin’s invitation to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee pic.twitter.com/xHQ7CInuwq
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) April 25, 2023
BREAKING: Chief Justice Roberts declines Senator Durbin’s invitation to testify before the senate judiciary committee pic.twitter.com/aiG2OE4iQq
— Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) April 25, 2023
Strong words from @FixTheCourt on Roberts’s letter refusing to testify regarding SCOTUS ethics challenges. The chief is demonstrating “ineptitude”, the watchdog says. pic.twitter.com/zMQdze7n9t
— Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) April 25, 2023
