Fix the Court’s Gabe Roth released this statement in response to the “Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices,” issued by Chief Justice John Roberts and signed by his eight colleagues (for a list of recent SCOTUS ethics lapses by the justices, see this):

Chief Justice Roberts’ statement is nowhere near an appropriate response to the ethical failures of the current Court.

After years of scandals and lapses, Americans had been seeking some reassurance that nine of the most powerful people in the country understood their responsibility to act above board, avoid corrupting influences and be honest in their dealings and disclosures.

No such comfort comes today.

Roberts here is demonstrating a profound ineptitude to rise to the occasion, and our country is worse for it.