Examining the Case of the Supreme Court vs. Ethics

Justices of the United States Supreme Court are appointed for life, but strong and clear ethics guidelines do not exist for them. The result is a federal judiciary that has accumulated a significant amount of scrutiny and mounting distrust. 

As the Supreme Court rules on cases impacting democracy, civil rights and everyday life, voters have a right to know that the justices delivering these opinions are acting in the public good and not to further the agenda of a financial benefactor or political ally. The need to create a reliable ethics structure for the Supreme Court is clear. Such a system must not only provide clarity to the public and hold justices accountable when rules are violated, but also clear guidelines for the justices to follow.  
 
While officials in other branches have stronger ethical standards to follow – by nature of the fact that they have ethical standards in place – attempts to tackle corruption and its appearance across the federal government are hindered while the Supreme Court’s increasingly brazen disregard for ethics remains at the forefront of the national conversation.