Statements or publications from the Judicial Conference

Judicial Conference Declines to Refer Justices Thomas, Jackson to DOJ Over Ethics Allegations

Jan 3, 2025, 02:30 AM

The U.S. Judicial Conference has declined a request from Democratic lawmakers to refer Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to the Department of Justice over allegations of ethics violations. The allegations stem from claims that Justice Thomas failed to disclose luxury gifts and travel provided by a wealthy benefactor, Republican donor Harlan Crow. In letters sent Thursday to Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Hank Johnson, the Judicial Conference cited doubts about its authority to refer Supreme Court justices to the DOJ, noting constitutional concerns and the absence of explicit statutory directives granting such authority. Justice Thomas has since amended his financial disclosures to address the issues raised and agreed to follow updated reporting requirements. The Conference also rejected a similar referral request concerning Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who has also amended her disclosures and agreed to updated reporting guidelines. The issue has reignited debates over the enforcement of ethics rules for Supreme Court justices, as the Court's 2023 adoption of a code of ethics lacks an enforcement mechanism.