Chief Justice Roberts on SCOTUS Ethics Procedures

"Some observers have recently questioned whether the Judicial Conference’s Code of Conduct for United States Judges should apply to the Supreme Court. I would like to use my annual report this year to address that issue, as well as some other related issues that have recently drawn public attention. The space constraints of the annual report prevent me from setting out a detailed dissertation on judicial ethics. And my judicial responsibilities preclude me from commenting on any ongoing debates about particular issues or the constitutionality of any enacted legislation or pending proposals. But I can provide some clarification on how the Justices address ethical issues and dispel some common misconceptions" writes Chief Justice Roberts. For details, see 2011 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary. See also CJ Roberts' Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary by Ruthann Robson, CUNY Professor of Law & University Distinguished Professor.

Hat tip to BTL's Tony Mauro, In Annual Report, Roberts Defends Supreme Court Ethics Procedures ("Roberts' discussion of Supreme Court ethics was extraordinary, taking up all but the final two paragraphs of his 12-page report.")