The U.S. Supreme Court Is Like the British Monarchy

The more public scrutiny on the Supreme Court and its lack of formal ethics standards, the more the court resembles another institution that isn’t officially accountable to those it serves: the British monarchy (“High Court Code of Conduct Has Stalled for Years,” Page One, July 20).

Though any institution in the modern democratic world must be socially aware and politically nimble enough to avoid being forced into giving up power, the Supreme Court seems to act like the British crown in that, with a little mystery and some separation from the common people, there need be no enforcement of written rules for the justices. While the court shouldn’t operate or rule based on the popularity of any passing mainstream view, justices with lifetime tenure must have some measure of accountability to the people they serve.

Just as the late Queen Elizabeth II voluntarily agreed to pay income tax, our Supreme Court should agree to written ethics rules to preserve the sanctity of the court and the legitimacy of its rulings. Their opinions may trump others’, but justices shouldn’t wear crowns.

Aaron Kohrs

Alexandria, Va.