Ryan McGinnis/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday declined an invitation to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing about Supreme Court ethics.
Sen. Dick Durbin, chairman of the influential panel, sent a letter to Roberts last week inviting him or "another Justice whom you designate" to appear before the committee on May 2 for a hearing "regarding the ethical rules that govern the Justices of the Supreme Court and potential reforms to those rules."
Roberts replied on Tuesday that testimony by the chief justice is "exceedingly rare," noting it s only happened twice: once in 1921 and again in 1935.
He also attached a five-page statement on court ethics and practices signed by all nine justices, which Roberts said they all adhere to despite there being no independent enforcement of such rules.
The invitation for Roberts to appear before the committee came after ProPublica reporting revealed close ties betwee
Ryan McGinnis/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday declined an invitation to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a
Chief Justice John Roberts declined an invitation from Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing on the Supreme Court's ethics rules.
Two senators have introduced a bipartisan bill to enforce a code of conduct on the Supreme Court, saying it could restore public confidence in the institution.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. rejected an invitation by Senate Democrats to testify about the high court's ethics next week. In a six-page letter, he said chief justice testimony is exceedingly rare.