The Supreme Court's Ethics Crisis: Lessons in PR and Congressional Action
The Supreme Court's "nothing to see here" approach to mounting ethics questions and a crisis of public confidence, particularly regarding Justice Clarence Thomas' close relationship with Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, risks losing Americans' confidence and appears out of touch with societal expectations for transparency and accountability. The court's lack of urgency in addressing ethical concerns and reluctance to adopt a binding code of conduct or make significant changes to how they handle issues related to recusals or financial disclosures may further erode public trust in the institution.