Chief Justice Roberts Declines to Testify Before Congress Over Ethics Concerns

Abbie VanSickle / The New York Times

In declining to appear before Congress, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote in a letter that such testimony is 'exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns.' (photo: Erin Schaff/NYT)

26 April 23

In an accompanying statement on ethics practices, the Supreme Court’s justices insisted their current ethical guidelines on gifts, travel and financial deals are sufficient.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee in a letter released Tuesday evening that he was declining its invitation to testify about ethics rules for the Supreme Court.

In an accompanying statement on ethics practices, all nine justices, under mounting pressure for more stringent reporting requirements at the court, insisted that the existing rules around gifts, travel and other financial disclosures are sufficient.

The chief justice wrote that such appearances before the committee were “exceedingly rare, as one might expect in light of separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence.”

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