The Complete Text of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's Formal Complaint Against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito

Filed today, September 5, 2023

The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.

Chief Justice of the United States

Chairman, Judicial Conference of the United States

Supreme Court of the United States

1 First Street NE

Washington, D.C.  20543

Dear Chief Justice/Chairman Roberts:

I write to lodge an ethics complaint regarding recent public comments by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, which appear to violate several canons of judicial ethics, including standards the Supreme Court has long applied to itself.

I write to you in your capacity both as Chief Justice and as Chair of the Judicial Conference because, unlike every other federal court, the Supreme Court has no formal process for receiving or investigating such complaints, and asserted violations by justices of relevant requirements have sometimes been referred to the Judicial Conference and its committees.  I include all justices in carbon copy because I am urging the Supreme Court to adopt a uniform process to address this complaint and others that may arise against any justice …