Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties

Ethics rules for Supreme Court justices

32 public statements from 2026 candidates

§1The range of views

Why this matters: Justices decide the country's biggest legal questions, so ethics rules affect public trust in the court and how conflicts of interest are handled.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Whether Supreme Court justices should be bound by an enforceable ethics code; the court adopted its own code of conduct in 2023, under which each justice decides whether to step aside from a case.1

  1. Pass a law setting a binding ethics code, with outside review of complaints and recusal decisions
  2. Keep ethics rules in the court's hands, but have it add its own way to enforce them
  3. Keep the court's current code

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Pass a law setting a binding ethics code, with outside review of complaints and recusal decisions (18)

  • Lateefah Simon CA-12
    Her campaign website says she would help impose an enforceable code of conduct on the Supreme Court, with limits on gifts and requirements for disclosure and recusal.2
  • Ro Khanna CA-17
    His campaign website says there should be a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices and a ban on undisclosed trips gifted by billionaires with business before the court.3,4
  • Angela Gonzales-Torres CA-34
    Her campaign website calls for a binding, enforceable code of ethics for justices, including bans on accepting gifts and owning stocks.5
  • Henry "Hank" Johnson, Jr. GA-4
    His campaign website says he proposed the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which would require justices to follow a binding and enforceable code of ethics with transparency and recusal standards.6,7,8
  • Sarah Trone Garriott IA-3
    Her campaign website says the Supreme Court needs a clear, enforceable ethics code in which justices step aside when they have a financial stake in a case, every gift and free trip is disclosed, and an independent body can enforce the rules.9
  • Dave Dawson IA-4
    His campaign website says the Supreme Court should be bound by a binding code of ethics, the same as every other federal judge.10
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says he will work to codify an ethics code for federal courts, including the Supreme Court, with disclosure requirements, an independent authority to investigate complaints and a binding recusal process.11
  • Nikki Budzinski IL-13
    Her campaign website says she supports legislation to ban luxury gifts, improve donor transparency and establish a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices.12
  • Tia LeBrun LA-3
    Her campaign website's Policy Plans page lists establishing a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices, with enhanced financial disclosures, independent review procedures for ethical complaints and stronger recusal standards.13
  • Ilhan Omar MN-5
    It calls for a binding ethics code for justices and an inspector general to hold them accountable.14
  • Alani Bankhead MT Senate
    Her campaign website says she would enact a binding, enforceable Supreme Court ethics code with real gift disclosure and recusal rules.15
  • Cyril Jefferson NC-6
    His campaign website lists a binding judicial ethics code for the U.S. Supreme Court among the structural reforms he would advance in Congress.16
  • Denise Powell NE-2
    Her campaign website says she would pass an ethics code for the Supreme Court that bans gifts from special interests, requires financial disclosure and sets recusal requirements when there is a conflict of interest.17
  • Mark Cohen NE-3
    His campaign website says Congress should pass a code of conduct for the Supreme Court that is binding and enforceable, with clear rules on financial disclosures and gifts, and should end the practice of letting each justice decide whether to recuse.18
  • Analilia Mejia NJ-11
    Her campaign issues page says she supports an enforceable, binding ethics code covering every federal judge.19
  • Adam Hamawy NJ-12
    His campaign website says he will fight to create an ethics code for Supreme Court justices that can be enforced.20
  • Jeff Merkley OR Senate
    His voters' pamphlet statement says the Supreme Court needs reform and a binding code of ethics.21
  • Brian L Bengs SD Senate
    His campaign website says Congress must impose enforceable ethics standards on the Supreme Court.22

Statements that don't match one option (14)

  • Clyde Jones AL-1
    His campaign website lists support for a Supreme Court code of conduct.23
  • Andrew Sneed AL-5
    His campaign website supports a code of judicial ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.24
  • Angie Nixon FL Senate special
    Her campaign website says she supports ethics reform for the Supreme Court, including binding ethics rules for all federal judges.25
  • Josh Turek IA Senate
    His campaign website says ethics standards should be enforced on Supreme Court justices.26
  • Christina Bohannan IA-1
    Her campaign website lists instituting a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices among the ethics reforms she will fight for in Congress.27
  • Lindsay James IA-2
    Her campaign website says she will fight for Supreme Court ethics reform, including banning justices from accepting expensive gifts, requiring them to disclose gifts received, and establishing an investigative body within the Court.28
  • Melissa Claire Strange KY-4
    Her campaign website says she supports an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court.29
  • Lauren Jewett LA-1
    Her campaign website says she will push to establish a binding code of judicial ethics for the Supreme Court that includes financial disclosures and limits on accepting gifts.30
  • Charlotte Magoon MI-2
    Her campaign website says she supports ethics reforms for the Supreme Court.31
  • Chris Reichard MO-8
    His Issues page says he would join coalitions like Take BAC Congress, whose candidates pledged to push for ethics rules for Supreme Court justices that can be enforced.32
  • Seth Bodnar MT Senate
    His campaign website says he supports a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court comparable to the standard for lower federal courts.33
  • Deborah K. Ross NC-2
    Her campaign Equality and Justice page says that on the House Judiciary Committee she is working with colleagues on concerns that Supreme Court justices may lack impartiality or have conflicts of interest.34
  • Winston Jordan NJ-12
    His policy platform website lists ethics enforcement for the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary as part of restoring the courts' independence and accountability.35
  • James Talarico TX Senate
    His campaign website says he supports a binding code of conduct for Supreme Court justices, including required rules on recusals, financial disclosures and gifts.36