Chief Justice John Roberts defends Supreme Court's highest standards of conduct, offers no new rules

Source: ABC News

In his first televised public remarks since the pandemic, Chief Justice John Roberts defended the integrity of the Supreme Court in the face of slumping public approval and growing political pressure after a recent barrage of misconduct allegations.

"I want to assure people that I am committed to making certain that we as a Court adhere to the highest standards of conduct," Roberts said Tuesday at the American Law Institute gala in Washington, D.C.

The gala, at which the chief justice was awarded the Henry J. Friendly Medal for contributions to the law, marked the first time Roberts directly addressed growing concern about how the justices handle potential conflicts of interest with their personal lives, a topic that has gotten renewed attention amid a series of alleged ethical infringements by Justice Clarence Thomas.

"We are continuing to look at things we can do to give practical effect to that commitment," Roberts said, "and I am confident there are ways to do that, that are consistent with our status as an independent branch of government under the constitutions, separation of powers." Roberts did not indicate what additional steps the Court could take to shore up public confidence or when it might act.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/chief-justice-john-roberts-defends-supreme-courts-highest/story?id=99568601

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Full headline: Chief Justice John Roberts defends Supreme Court's 'highest standards of conduct,' offers no new rules (to include quote marks)

Of course he wouldn't.