Official announcements from the Supreme Court, legal documentation

Chief Justice Roberts Declines Senate Democrats' Meeting on Alito Ethics and Recusal Questions

May 30, 2024, 06:10 PM

House Judiciary Committee Democrats have called on Chief Justice John Roberts to address concerns regarding Justice Samuel Alito's potential violation of the Supreme Court's code of ethics by displaying controversial flags linked to the 'Stop the Steal' effort. In response, Chief Justice Roberts has declined requests from Democratic senators, including Sens. Durbin and Whitehouse, to discuss Supreme Court ethics, Alito's actions, and recusal questions, citing separation of powers and the importance of preserving judicial independence. Roberts reiterated his stance from a previous similar request, stating that a meeting with the senators would be inadvisable. The Democrats also questioned how Roberts plans to enforce the code, given that it has no teeth, and urged Alito to recuse from 2020 election-related cases.