Chief Justice Roberts says Supreme Court can do more to 'adhere to the highest standards'

the Supreme Court can do to "adhere to the highest standards" of ethical conduct, an acknowledgment that recent reporting about the justices' ethical missteps is having an effect on public perception of the court.Speaking at a law dinner Tuesday where he was honored with an award, Roberts provided no specifics but said the justices "are continuing to look at the things we can do to give practical effect to that commitment."He said he is "confident there are ways to do that consistent with our status as an independent branch of government and the Constitution’s separation of powers."The court has resisted adopting an ethics code of its own, and Roberts has raised questions about whether Congress could impose a code of conduct on the court.All nine justices recently signed a statement of ethics that Roberts provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

His remarks Tuesday suggested he knows that statement is not enough to quiet critics.Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts attends President Joe Bidens State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S.

Capitol on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) The chief justice's remarks follow a series of stories, mainly by the investigative news site ProPublica, that have detailed lavish trips and other gifts provided to Justice Clarence Thomas by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.RELATED: Justice Clarence Thomas says he didn't have to disclose luxury trips funded by GOP megadonorDemocrats have used the revelations to call for stronger ethics rules for the Supreme Court, and the Democratic-controlled Senate has held two hearings on ethics issues in recent weeks.