Supreme Court's Ethics Issues Ignite Pressure for Reforms and Oversight.

Democrats and judicial watchdog groups are pushing for ethics reforms in the Supreme Court following recent controversies, including undisclosed luxury trips received by Justice Clarence Thomas from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow. Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin summoned Chief Justice John Roberts to Congress, but Roberts declined the invitation. Republicans have portrayed Congress’ push as an attempt to smear the court’s conservative majority, but at least one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, has joined the calls for ethics reform. She introduced a bill that would require the court to implement a code of conduct within one year of enactment.