Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025
Senate Bill Would Require Supreme Court Ethics Code, Gift Limits, and Public Complaint Process
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
↔Companion bill: House Committee Reviews Bill Requiring Supreme Court Ethics Code and Gift LimitsLegislative Progress
Key Points
- Would require the Supreme Court to create a written code of conduct within 180 days, with public notice and a chance for public comment.
- Would put the Supreme Court’s ethics rules online in a searchable, downloadable format, so the public can more easily see the standards justices follow.
- Would create a way for people to file ethics complaints about a Supreme Court justice, with complaints reviewed by a randomly picked panel of 5 chief circuit judges that can investigate and issue reports.
- Would tighten when justices and other federal judges must step aside from cases, including when a party had lobbying contact with them or spent substantial funds supporting their nomination, or when certain gifts or income were received within the prior 6 years.
- Would require more disclosure from parties and friend-of-the-court filers about gifts, income, reimbursements, and certain nomination-related lobbying, and would require audits and regular studies reported to Congress.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
Senate GOP blocks Supreme Court ethics bill
The SCERT Act would require the court to draft a binding code of ethics and make it available for public comment. The measure would also establish a review board composed of lower court judges that would adjudicate ethics complaints against the justices.
Dems demand Supreme Court follow through on push for binding ethics code
The SCERT Act would have used Congress' oversight authority to force the justices to adopt a binding code of conduct. The bill also would have established transparency standards for recusal and set up a review panel to consider ethics complaints against the high court.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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