II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1290 

To require the Supreme Court of the United States to issue a code of 

conduct for the justices of the Supreme Court, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2023 

Mr. KING (for himself and Ms. MURKOWSKI) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To require the Supreme Court of the United States to issue 

a code of conduct for the justices of the Supreme Court, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supreme Court Code 

5 of Conduct Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR JUSTICES OF THE SU7 PREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

9 date of enactment of this Act, the Supreme Court of the 

10 United States shall, after appropriate public notice and 


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1 opportunity for comment in accordance with section 2071 

2 of title 28, United States Code, issue a code of conduct 

3 for the Chief Justice of the United States and justices of 

4 the Supreme Court of the United States. 

5 (b) PUBLICATION.—The Supreme Court of the 

6 United States shall publish the code of conduct required 

7 under subsection (a) on the website of the Supreme Court, 

8 which shall be available to the public. 

9 (c) DESIGNATED INDIVIDUAL.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Supreme Court of the 

11 United States shall designate an individual, includ12 ing an employee, to process complaints containing 

13 allegations that the Chief Justice of the United 

14 States or a justice of the Supreme Court has en15 gaged in, or is engaging in, conduct that is— 

16 (A) prejudicial to the administration of 

17 justice; or 

18 (B) in violation of Federal law or the code 

19 of conduct established under subsection (a). 

20 (2) OBLIGATIONS.—The Chief Justice of the 

21 United States and the justices of the Supreme Court 

22 of the United States may confer with the designee 

23 described in paragraph (1) on the obligations of the 

24 Chief Justice or justice, as applicable, under the 


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1 code of conduct required under subsection (a) and 

2 section 455 of title 28, United States Code. 

3 (3) REPORT.—The individual designated under 

4 paragraph (1) shall publish on the website of the Su5 preme Court of the United States a report that de6 scribes— 

7 (A) the complaints described in paragraph 

8 (1), with the names of the complainants 

9 anonymized; and 

10 (B) any steps taken to remedy the alleged 

11 conduct. 

12 (4) INVESTIGATIONS.—The Marshal of the Su13 preme Court of the United States, after consultation 

14 with the Chief Justice of the United States and the 

15 designee described in paragraph (1), may commis16 sion, on a reimbursable basis, Federal agency per17 sonnel who serve in investigative roles, or businesses 

18 that contract with the Federal Government to carry 

19 out investigative work, to assist the Marshal in car20 rying out investigations to determine whether the 

21 Chief Justice of the United States, a justice of the 

22 Supreme Court, or an employee who reports to a 

23 justice of the Supreme Court, as applicable, has enVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:15 May 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1290.IS S1290

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1 gaged in, or is engaging in, conduct described in 

2 paragraph (1). 

Æ 


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