Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News And Articles.
Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) criticized the Supreme Court’s new ethics code for the federal judiciary, which does not address political activities of judges or their staffs, as “a glaring omission.”
“The Supreme Court has, unaccountably, passed over what should have been the central point of their opinion,” Schumer said in a statement. “The Court’s new Code of Conduct for Federal Judges does not include a single word concerning the obligations of judicial officers and their staffs with regard to politics. This determination to duck the issue is a glaring omission.”
The Supreme Court’s new code, issued in June, was drafted to update and clarify prior guidance for judges and judicial staff. While it includes provisions concerning how judges and their staff should conduct themselves both in and out of the courtroom, there are no provisions specifically addressing political activities or obligations. This omission runs counter to the practice of many state judiciaries, which have adopted rules that require judges to stay impartial and refrain from political activities.
Schumer argued that allowing judges to engage in politics without restriction sets a dangerous precedent and can erode public trust in the impartiality of the judiciary. Schumer urged Congress to take action, saying, “We must take measures to ensure the federal judiciary does not become political. To this end, I call on the Senate to move soon to consider legislation to address this critical issue.”