Judicial Conference Declines Ethics Referral for Justice Clarence Thomas

The U.S. Judicial Conference determined it lacks authority to refer Supreme Court justices for investigation, following scrutiny of Thomas' financial disclosures.

Justice Clarence Thomas will not face a Department of Justice investigation after the U.S. Judicial Conference declined to refer ethics allegations against him.
The controversy stems from reports of undisclosed luxury travel and gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow, which Thomas has since partially addressed in amended financial disclosures.
Judicial Conference officials cited unclear legal authority to refer Supreme Court justices and noted that Thomas has complied with updated disclosure rules implemented in 2023.
Critics argue the lack of external enforcement mechanisms for the Supreme Court's ethics code undermines public trust in the judiciary and calls for reform persist.
A separate request to investigate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for financial disclosure omissions was similarly rejected after she amended her filings.