Murkowski, King propose bipartisan Senate bill to make Supreme Court draft new code of conduct

Sens. Angus King and Lisa Murkowski have introduced a bipartisan bill to require the Supreme Court to create a new code of conduct.

The announcement of the bill follows a recent news report about Justice Clarence Thomas having not disclose luxury trips he accepted from Texas billionaire Harlan Crow.  

The bill would require the high court to implement a code of conduct within one year of its enactment into law and publish the new code on its website, according to The Hill Newspaper.

The proposal also comes ahead of a scheduled May 12 hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss Supreme Court ethics. Chief Justice John Roberts said earlier this week that he has declined a request to testify.

Thomas has said he was advised that he did not have to report the trips. The high court has already, recently revised its code of conduct, which reportedly would require such reporting.

"The Supreme Court Code of Conduct Act is a commonsense step to restore and maintain faith in the high court by requiring the creation of consistent, transparent rules like the ones that apply to every other federal judge across our democracy," said King, a Vermont independent.

Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said the legislation will address public concerns about the court’s impartiality amid its declining approval ratings, The Hill also reports.