Federal court officials have announced that separate ethics complaints filed against Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Ketanji Brown Jackson will not be referred to the Justice Department.
The U.S. Judicial Conference revealed that Justice Thomas has agreed to adhere to updated guidelines regarding the disclosure of free private travel and gifts from friends, addressing previous concerns about undisclosed hospitality.
Justice Jackson, on the other hand, has amended her financial disclosures in response to complaints regarding her husband's consulting income as a physician.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden, along with Representative Hank Johnson, had requested an investigation into undisclosed hospitality provided to Justice Thomas by billionaire friend Harland Crow. The Judicial Conference confirmed that Justice Thomas has filed amended financial disclosures to address the issues raised.
Judge Robert Conrad, who heads the judicial conference policymaking body, stated that it is unclear whether the judiciary has the authority to make criminal referrals against a sitting Supreme Court member due to constitutional constraints.
While Senators Whitehouse and Wyden had urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to investigate former President Trump, no action has been taken yet.
Citizens for Renewing America, led by Russ Vought, filed a complaint against Justice Jackson, prompting her to amend her financial disclosures. The Supreme Court adopted its first code of ethics last year, but concerns remain about the enforcement of these standards.
A recent Senate investigation revealed additional undisclosed luxury travel by Justice Thomas in 2021, raising questions about the court's commitment to ethics enforcement. Advocacy group Fix the Court called on Congress to establish a transparent mechanism for investigating justices for ethics violations.
Executive Director Gabe Roth emphasized the need for greater judicial transparency and accountability in light of the Judicial Conference's decision not to pursue further action on the ethics complaints.
