Jackson Purchase News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addressed the Senate floor today concerning the Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court term is about to end, which means it’s time for Democrats and their media allies to bully and harass the Justices,” McConnell stated.

He referenced recent criticisms directed at Justice Alito, specifically regarding his wife’s flags. “I have nothing to say about those attacks themselves because they’re so profoundly unserious,” he said, adding that some of these criticisms have taken an inappropriate form.

“Three of our colleagues have taken it upon themselves to write to the Chief Justice and demand Justice Alito’s recusal in cases,” McConnell noted. He mentioned that one Senator even suggested that Chief Justice Roberts should prevent Justices Alito and Thomas from writing majority opinions unless they recuse themselves from certain cases.

“This goes beyond the standard disgraceful bullying my Democratic colleagues have perfected. Recusal is a judicial act,” McConnell asserted.

McConnell emphasized that such actions constitute ex parte communication, which is discouraged by the American Bar Association’s Model Code of Judicial Conduct. He pointed out that at least two Senators involved are members of the Supreme Court Bar, potentially engaging in unethical professional conduct before the Court.

“They may be under the mistaken impression that their persistent attempts to threaten the federal courts are a permissible use of their legislative office,” he continued. “But they are Officers of the Court and bound by a different set of rules than a mere Senator.”

McConnell suggested that these actions could be considered “conduct unbecoming” an officer of the Court and recommended that any necessary remedial action be taken by the Court itself.

“The legal profession is in distress. Unethical behavior by attorneys serving political causes unfortunately knows no party or faction,” he concluded. “It is up to the legal profession to police itself. And in the end, this means that courts – including the Supreme Court – must police their officers.”

“We don’t need to appeal to heaven to fix this problem,” McConnell remarked. “Just to the Supreme Court’s power to police the ethical practice of law among the members of its Bar.”

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