US Supreme Court Adopts First Code of Conduct Following Ethics Controversies.

The US Supreme Court has adopted a code of conduct for the first time in response to ethics controversies that have affected its public image. The code is a "codification" of existing principles and does not include a system for public complaints or outside review of violations. Critics argue that a code of ethics is not effective without a mechanism to investigate and enforce the rules. The Supreme Court has historically not been bound by the same strictures as the rest of the federal judiciary, but the new code incorporates gift and disclosure regulations from the Judicial Conference. The court did not adopt a complaint system like other judges and instead directed court staff to review "best practices" from lower courts. All nine justices, including Justice Clarence Thomas, who has faced scrutiny for his conduct, signed the new code. [Extracted from the article]