Most U.S. adults oppose mandatory ethics code for Supreme Court: poll

A majority of Americans oppose Congress passing a mandatory code of ethics for the Supreme Court, a new survey shows.

The survey, commissioned by the conservative Christian legal group First Liberty Institute, was conducted August 12-15 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy and has a ± 3% margin of error, according to The Washington Times.

The poll surveyed 1,100 adults, 57% of whom said a congressionally mandated code of ethics would threaten judicial independence. An additional 2% opposed court-packing.

Most surveyed, 52%, also opposed lifetime appointments.

"Americans clearly understand that the independence of the judiciary is critical to their freedoms and that politically motivated so-called 'reform' threatens judicial independence," First Liberty President Kelly Shackelford said.

Shackelford characterized so-called "reform" efforts as an "attempted power grab by Congress to control the Supreme Court."

"Despite the relentless attacks by the left, Americans want Congress to mind its own business and leave the courts alone," Shackelford also said.

After dropping out of the race, President Joe Biden made "reforming" the Supreme Court a centerpiece of his remaining time in office. Biden's proposal included a code of ethics and term limits for the Supreme Court.