Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has opened up about some controversies seen revolving around the court in recent years.
Jackson believes that the American public has the right to know what type of gifts judges accept. She has also backed a general ethics requirement for the court.
The Supreme Court and Gifts
In recent years, various Supreme Court justices — most notably Justice Clarence Thomas — have been accused of accepting gifts and free travel by billionaires.
Controversy has persisted, as reporting has confirmed that these justices never revealed that they received these gifts or travels.
The Question of Impartiality
The private acceptance of these gifts has caused many of the American public to question the Supreme Court’s overall impartiality when it comes to vital cases.
After all, many of these billionaires giving the justices these gifts could be attempting to sway the justices’ impartiality on some matters.
The Push for an Ethics Code
Ever since reporting has come out about justices privately accepting gifts from billionaires, many have called for an enforceable ethics code to be placed on the Supreme Court.
President Joe Biden even recently proposed such a thing, stating that the court must be held accountable.
Jackson Believes the American Public Should Know
Now, Justice Jackson has revealed her own opinion about whether or not the American public should know about the type and kind of gifts justices accept.
According to Jackson, she believes that the public is “entitled to know” what gifts justices accept.
Are Justices Impartial?
Jackson further stated that Americans should know whether or not justices on the Supreme Court are impartial.
“It really boils down to impartiality,” Jackson explained. “That’s what the rules are about. People are entitled to know if you are accepting gifts as a judge so that they can evaluate whether or not your opinions are impartial.”
Following Ethical Obligations
While Jackson refused to comment on the controversies revolving around Justices Thomas and Samuel Alito — and the gifts they received — she did explain her own personal code of ethics.
Jackson explained that she always follows the rules “whatever they are, with respect to ethical obligations. And it’s important, in my view, to do so.”
Jackson Supports a Code of Ethics
Jackson also said that she is not against a code of ethics being enforced on the Supreme Court.
She said, “A binding code of ethics is pretty standard for judges. And so I guess the question is, is the Supreme Court any different? And I guess I have not seen a persuasive reason as to why the court is different than the other courts.”
Enforcing Ethics
While Jackson wouldn’t comment on certain policy proposals, such as what Biden has proposed, she has stated that she would be okay with a code of ethics.
Jackson said that she doesn’t “have any problem with an enforceable code.”
Alito and Thomas’ Controversial Gifts
Jackson’s recent comments come as many in the public continue to have issues with the many gifts that Alito and Thomas have secretly received over the last few decades.
Most notably, Clarence Thomas’ friendship with billionaire Harlan Crow has been put in the spotlight.
Calls for Reform Grow
Calls for the Supreme Court to be reformed have only grown in recent months, particularly as some Americans worry that the conservative majority court is not impartial when it comes to former President Donald Trump and his allies.
Biden’s attempt to bring reform to the court through certain policy proposals has been applauded by many Supreme Court critics.
Americans Don’t Approve of the Supreme Court
Approval of the Supreme Court is at an all-time low, as both Democrats and Republicans are disappointed with the direction of the court.
A Gallup poll recently found that only 43% of Americans approve of the Supreme Court and the job that it’s doing.
