A federal judge in Massachusetts wrote a scathing opinion essay in the New York Times, excoriating the Supreme Court's recent ethical debacles. Judge Michael Ponsor, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, said the high court needs a code of ethics. Following the reports of several Supreme Court justices crossing ethical lines, a plethora of congressional Democrats have also called for the Supreme Court to institute a code of ethics. As it stands, the high court does not have one, and the court's chief justice has pushed back on efforts to instate one. "The Supreme Court will no longer exist as a truly viable institution if it continues the failure to face the need for a code of ethics," Blumenthal said.

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Persons: Michael Ponsor, Bill Clinton, Michel Ponsor, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor's, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Blumenthal Organizations: New York Times, Service, Court, District, Massachusetts, Democratic, Committee Locations: Massachusetts, Wall, Silicon