Supreme Court Ethics Code Lacks Enforcement After Internal Debate

Leaked discussions reveal deep divisions among justices over enforceability of new ethics guidelines, with conservatives resisting binding measures.

Leaked memos and discussions show the Supreme Court's recent ethics code lacks enforcement mechanisms, following significant internal disagreement.
Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson supported enforceable rules, with Kagan proposing a non-punitive advisory panel of federal judges, which was ultimately rejected.
Justice Gorsuch strongly opposed enforceable measures, arguing they could undermine judicial independence, with Alito and Thomas expressing similar concerns.
Chief Justice Roberts sought a compromise to address public criticism over ethics controversies, but the final code remained voluntary and non-binding.
The leaks highlight ongoing tensions within the court and raise questions about transparency and accountability in the judiciary.