Supreme Court issues first code of conduct, amid pressure, scrutiny over unreported trips, gifts

The Supreme Court announced Monday it has adopted its first code of ethics, amid public and congressional scrutiny about undisclosed trips and gifts to some justices.

The court's nine justices have been considering such a policy statement for some time and appeared to have reached an agreement on the matter late last week, according to the Associated Press. 

The high court issued the order amid an effort led by the Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee to get Congress to pass a code of ethics, which including a recent, high-stakes bid to subpoena two benefactors, and polling that shows Americans' approval rating of the court at record lows.   

The increased scrutiny on the matter over the past several months focused first on Justice Clarence Thomas and his failure to disclose travel and other financial ties with such wealthy conservative donors as Harlan Crow and the Koch brothers, according to the Associated Press.

However, Justices Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor also have been under scrutiny.

Justices, Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh prior to Monday each voiced support for an ethics code, the wire service also reports.