Dear John,

The Supreme Court is facing a crisis of integrity — and not just because the majority is determined to toss out decades of precedent and roll back our rights.

First, the New York Times uncovered evidence that a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Court called the Supreme Court Historical Society has been raking in millions from corporations like Chevron and Goldman Sachs as well as anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ lobbyists.

Then we learned that Chief Justice John Roberts's wife has been paid millions of dollars as a recruiter for corporate law firms that have argued dozens of cases before the Court.

Worst of all, this could be just the tip of the iceberg — because unlike every other federal judge, the Supreme Court justices are not bound by any enforceable disclosure rules or code of ethics.

And now, after years of promising to “seriously study” the issue, the justices just admitted that they’ve been unable to to agree on any sort of code of ethics.

It’s clear the Supreme Court can’t be trusted to police itself. If they won’t adopt clear ethics rules voluntarily, Congress should do it for them, including requiring that regular financial disclosures are posted online and that justices recuse themselves when there's a conflict of interest.

Will you make a donation to Inequality Media to help inform the public about what’s at stake and demand Supreme Court reform?

The Supreme Court is one of America’s most important institutions, providing a nonpartisan check on the other branches of government and upholding the rule of law.

It’s also one of the least accountable. The nine justices are appointed for life, and unlike every other federal judicial branch, there are no rules regarding when they must recuse themselves or even reveal potential conflicts of interest.

So there’s no recourse when Justice Clarence Thomas repeatedly refuses to recuse himself from cases about the 2020 election, even though his wife, Ginni Thomas, tried to overturn it. Or when Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s husband opens a Washington office for his Indiana law firm.

The influential American Bar Association just came out in favor of ethics rules for justices. A model code developed by government watchdog groups is gaining popularity. Inequality Media is working to keep the momentum going, educating the public and demanding action even after the Supreme Court is no longer in the headlines.

Will you make a donation to Inequality Media to help inform the public and demand Supreme Court reform?

With deep gratitude and solidarity,

Robert Reich
Inequality Media