Washington D.C. – Following the introduction today of a House bill to bar Supreme Court justices and other federal judges from receiving individual gifts worth more than $50, with additional limits for gifts of personal hospitality -- a standard similar to that which already applies to members of Congress -- People For the American Way President Svante Myrick released the following statement:
“Finally! It’s about time we insisted that federal judges – especially members of the Supreme Court – be held to the same common-sense ethical standards that apply to Congress. We’ve seen scandal after scandal at this Supreme Court as some members have accepted enormous gifts and favors from billionaires, much of which could have been prevented if we’d had minimal standards in place. While we await a comprehensive, enforceable code of ethics for the Court, we applaud Reps. Jamie Raskin and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for this pragmatic and necessary response to one particularly troubling aspect of the Court’s ethics challenges, and we look forward to seeing it passed.”
About People For the American Way People For the American Way, a national progressive advocacy organization, inspires and mobilizes community and cultural leaders to advance Truth, Justice and the American Way. We convene courageous Americans, produce compelling media and organize campaigns to defend our democracy from authoritarian threats and advance America’s promise that everyone will enjoy freedom, safety and a vote that counts.
