U.S. Judiciary Ethics Spotlighted by Newly Introduced Congressional BillCatherine J. Frompovich According to the Complaint of Judicial Misconduct, both justices apparently violated Canon 4(c) of the Code of Conduct because a judge should not personally participate in fund-raising activities, solicit funds for any organization, or use or permit the use of the prestige of judicial office for that purpose. [3] Perhaps such conduct by judges may have been overlooked in the past; however, in these unusual days of near all-time low ratings for any political body in authority within the Capitol Beltway, Congresswoman Slaughter just may want to raise the accountability bar. And, there may be no better government institution to start with than the judicial system. The Gallup Poll taken in July 2013 found the U.S. Supreme Court approval rating is near an all-time low, i.e., 46 percent. Sad, isnt that? She also introduced a bill into the Congressional hopper, H.R.2902 Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2013 that is to apply a code of ethics to Justices who sit on the Supreme Court of the United States, being mindful of their preeminence in the Federal judiciary. [7] Apparently, other members of Congress also are hearing drumbeats foreboding Election Day doom. H.R. 2902 currently has 58 cosponsors. That bill still can work its way around Congress for another year. It will be interesting to see how many cosponsors it finally winds up with. Maybe readers would like to ask your members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 2902. Heres how to contact any member of Congress. http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ In addition to all the above, Congresswoman Slaughter has a petition to Hold Justice Clarence Thomas Accountable for Defying the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges, which you also may want to sign. When I checked last, the petition had over 140,000 signatures! What is that saying? Taxpayers, consumers, citizens finally are getting a sense of whats going on in Washington, DC, and they want accountability. Lets hope it doesnt stop with the judiciary, as there is great need for accountability at all levels of the current government and administration. Wouldnt you agree? Congresswoman Slaughter isnt barking up just any old tree; shes barking up the judiciarys trees! There is a Code of Conduct for United States Judges [8] that clearly itemizes what is expected from judges. The trouble is, similar to whats going on in most of Washingtons inner circles anymore, everyone thinks he or she is above the law, ethics, and transparency. That apparent lawless ideology at very high levels now is hearing checkmate. In the board game of chess, checkmate refers to the players king piece being attacked directly by the opposing side, threatened, and the game usually is over if the king piece cannot make a legal move. Its going to be interesting to see how this game plays out, and if there will be other accountability games taken up, especially if Congress has the intestinal fortitude to use its oversight powers and not cave to intimidation, lobbying forces, or media controllers. Congress can do it! The U.S. Constitution empowers Congress! However, there are two questions that need to be asked: You can redeem yourselves. Just listen to We, the People! Notes: [1] http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2013/11/joyous-justice-thomas-speaks-to-federalist-society.html [2] http://louise.house.gov/press-releases/reformers-senior-lawmaker-charge-justice-thomas-and-federal-appellate-judge-diane-sykes-with-violating-judicial-ethics/ [3] http://louise.house.gov/uploads/Complaint%20-%20Federalist%20Society%20-%20Judge%20Sykes%20FINAL%2011%2012%2013.pdf [4] http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_job_approval-903.html [5]http://louise.house.gov/uploads/Letter%20to%20CJ%20Roberts%20re%20Thomas%20Fed%20Soc%20FINAL%2011%2013%2013.pdf [6] http://louise.house.gov/uploads/Complaint%20-%20Federalist%20Society%20-%20Judge%20Sykes%20FINAL%2011%2012%2013.pdf [7] http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/house-bill/2902/text [8]http://www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPolicies/CodesOfConduct/CodeConductUnitedStatesJudges.aspx Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies.Her work has been published in national and airline magazines since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting. Catherines latest book,published October 4, 2013, is Vaccination Voodoo, What YOU Dont Know About Vaccines, available on Amazon.com. Her 2012 bookA Cancer Answer, Holistic BREAST Cancer Management, A Guide to Effective Non-Toxic Treatments, is available on Amazon.com and as a Kindle eBook. Two of Catherines more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into Whats Probably Making Us Sick (2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process(2008). 