Court needs ethics rules

Thank you for your article The Renewed Pressure to Overhaul the Supreme Court. As Congress has grown more dysfunctional, the High Court has gained a nearly unchecked power to determine the meaning of federal laws that affect our social and economic lives without sufficient accountability.

No other democracy gives life tenure to judges on its version of the Supreme Court. Nine, youthful, nonelected government officials serving for a lifetime are making decisions on campaign contributions, partisan gerrymandering, voting rights, health insurance, reproductive rights, discrimination protections, and gun laws. Cases being brought before the court are increasingly political, and court rulings reflect stark, partisan division.

The Roberts Court majority has repeatedly used "originalism," a radically conservative judicial philosophy that asserts all constitutional issues must be decided based on how issues would have been resolved when the Constitution was drafted in the 1700s. Such interpretations ignore fundamental changes in our society and a Supreme Court history that consistently rejected originalism. Moreover, the Supreme Court increasingly cites the "major questions doctrine" to diminish the ability of federal agencies such as the FDA, EPA and OSHA to do regulatory work that protects workers and consumers.

Given recent ethics scandals and a new, historic low approval rating of just 36%, it's clear that Supreme Court reform is needed. Reforms include creating a code of ethics, instituting term limits or senior status, constructing a balanced court where neither party dominates, initiating Congressional review of Supreme Court statutory decisions, presidential or congressional resistance and omnibus legislation.

The independence of our federal judiciary to decide cases based on law - with an understanding that court decisions should reflect the broad-based, cross-partisan will of the people - is at stake. I am an independent and suggest contacting our representatives and writing letters to the Supreme Court calling for reform.

Donna Limper

Bloomingdale