Senate Democrats to bring up Supreme Court ethics bill amid new revelations
CBSN
Washington — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin will attempt to unanimously pass legislation on Wednesday that would require the Supreme Court to adopt binding ethics rules amid recent press reports scrutinizing Justice Samuel Alito.
Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, plans to ask for unanimous consent to pass the legislation on Wednesday evening, meaning it can be blocked by opposition from just a single lawmaker. Republicans are all but certain to object.
The bill, introduced by Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, would require the Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of conduct and implement a mechanism for investigating alleged violations of the ethics rules and other laws. It would also require the high court to impose more stringent rules for the disclosure of gifts, travel and income received by the justices and their law clerks.
