Supreme Court Implements Ethics Code Amidst Controversy

The Supreme Court has announced the adoption of a 14-page code of ethics in response to criticism over undisclosed gifts and travel received by some justices. The code, which lacks an enforcement mechanism, aims to dispel the perception that the justices consider themselves exempt from ethics rules. The move comes after reports revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas had accepted luxury trips without reporting them, and Justice Samuel Alito failed to disclose a fishing trip. The code covers canons of conduct related to integrity, impartiality, and refraining from political activity. Senate Democrats, who had called for ethics reform and launched an investigation, have yet to comment on the new code. Republicans have opposed efforts to impose ethics standards on the court, accusing Democrats of attempting to influence conservative justices' rulings.