• Most justices across the United States have said Supreme Court justices should be bound by a code of ethics. Many were shocked to learn that they are not.
• Among the judges who responded against the requirement of such a code, there was concern about who might enforce it.
• The issue comes amid repeated reports of ethical lapses among judges and as the nation’s top court is expected to announce more than a dozen rulings in the coming weeks on issues including abortion, firearms, immigration and the environment.

Hundreds of justices across the US have said US Supreme Court justices should be bound by a code of conduct – and many said they were shocked to find it wasn’t already the case.

The National Judicial College has polled judges across the country on whether the Supreme Court should be held to a higher standard. The inquiry came amid a controversial and high-profile U.S. Supreme Court timeline that has involved issues of bias, as well as investigations into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ family ties to the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol.