[1]U.S. Senator Chris Murphy

It was a privilege to vote to confirm Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. I am thrilled to see her elevated to the Supreme Court, and I know she will bring a compassionate, fair, and clear-eyed sense of justice.

This is an exciting and historic moment for our nation’s highest court. But it’s important that we not lose sight of the fact that the Supreme Court is in crisis at this very moment.

The involvement of Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife in the events of January 6 has sparked an urgent conversation on the ethical standards of and trust in our nation’s highest court.

Every federal judge is subject to a code of conduct — except for the 9 who sit on the Supreme Court. That's ridiculous.

My Supreme Court Ethics Act fixes this by requiring the Judicial Conference, which governs federal courts, to create a binding code of conduct that applies to all federal judges and justices.

Support for this legislation is growing in Congress by the day, but we cannot lose momentum. So I need you to add your voice today:

Will you sign my petition to become a citizen co-sponsor of the Supreme Court Ethics Act? The Supreme Court cannot and should not police itself.

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I wrote this bill a decade ago — long before anyone was talking about the lack of an ethics code for the Supreme Court. I have reintroduced it every session, and now is the time to pass it.

Justice Kagan said during Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation process, “The court’s strength as an institution of American governance depends on people believing it has a certain kind of legitimacy, on people believing it’s not simply an extension of politics, that its decision-making has a kind of integrity to it. If people don’t believe that, they have no reason to accept what the court does.”

But this belief and trust is teetering. The Court’s reputation is in rapid decline.

And let’s be clear: This isn’t a new issue. We’ve seen justices — appointed by both Republicans and Democrats — speak at partisan events, promote political fundraisers, and even fail to recuse themselves despite pretty clear conflicts of interest.

Past is prologue, and we must take immediate action to bolster confidence in the Supreme Court.

Please add your name to become a citizen co-sponsor of my Supreme Court Ethics Act and urge my colleagues to pass this bill immediately. I believe we can all agree that Supreme Court justices deserve to be held to the highest standards — regardless of political party.

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The actions of Ginni Thomas in the lead-up to January 6 were not normal. They were extraordinary and dangerous, and allowing this moment to pass without trying to act would be a stain on us all and a tacit acceptance of a lack of accountability and ethical standards for these nine justices.

Every best wish,

Chris Murphy

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