Supreme Court's so-called Ethics Code is worse than NOTHING

"There's no clearer indication that these rules are useless than--the fact that they end up codifying Thomas's outrageous behavior as ethically within bounds. According to the rules, not a single thing-Thomas has done is a problem. Putting out a code of conduct that doesn't restrain Thomas is like erecting a dam that doesn't restrain water. It's just a gigantic waste of everyone's time." - Elie Mystal

- Marc H. Morial

The so-called Code of Conduct the U.S. Supreme Court issued on Monday won't put a stop to corruption and wasn't intended to do so. Quite the opposite: it is intended to justify corruption.

The Code's most glaringly obvious failing is the lack of any enforcement mechanism. But it's clear the justices don't intend their feeble code to be enforced: In "adapting" the federal judiciary's code of conduct, the word "enforce" is dropped from the opening section. Other federal judges are expected to "maintain and enforce high standards of conduct." Supreme Court justices are called upon merely to "maintain and observe" such standards.

Lower court judges should not "lend the prestige of the judicial office" to advance their own private interests or permit others "to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge." The Supreme Court justices gave themselves considerable wiggle room by inserting the word "knowingly."