40+ Organizations Demand SCOTUS Recusals Ahead of New Term

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Accountable.US led over 40 Supreme Court watchdog and accountability organizations in sending a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts demanding he ensure conflicted justices recuse themselves from upcoming cases. The letter comes in response to recent reporting revealing glaring conflicts of interest involving Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito in cases set to be heard in the new term, which starts Monday.

“These new revelations only deepen the legitimacy crisis already plaguing your Supreme Court. To restore the Court’s integrity, at the very least, these justices must recuse themselves from cases in which they have conflicts,” wrote the organizations. “Already, reports of failures to disclose extravagant gifts, influence-peddling in elite circles, and ethical violations among justices have caused public trust in the Supreme Court to plummet to record lows. There are too many instances of cozy relationships between billionaires who routinely bring business before the Court and justices themselves to ignore.”

“Until now, the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis has been defined by its refusal to establish and enforce strong standards — standards to which every other federal judge is required to adhere. Now is the time for action to ensure our nation’s highest Court is held to the highest standards of ethics and impartiality. Our democracy depends on it,” the groups continued.

The letter identifies two key upcoming cases in which justices have conflicts of interest that demand recusal:

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo: Justice Thomas attended private political fundraising retreats sponsored by the Kochs for years and neglected to disclose these trips — an apparent violation of federal law. Justice Thomas’s participation served as a fundraising draw for the expansive network that has brought cases directly before the Supreme Court, including Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the critical upcoming case challenging the Chevron doctrine.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) v. Community Financial Services Association Of America (CFSA): Hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer stands to benefit mightily from the Supreme Court’s upcoming CFPB case. Justice Alito’s friendship with Singer, which found the two on a luxury fishing trip together and included hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of private jet travel, presents a clear conflict of interest that warrants recusal.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

Accountable.US has led the charge in calling for urgent action and reform in light of the growing Supreme Court corruption crisis. Accountable.US has also pushed for Chief Justice Roberts to take accountability for his inaction in response to the ethics issues plaguing his Court.