Durbin calls on Chief Justice Roberts to testify about ethics rules to Senate Judiciary Committee

Washington — Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who helms the Senate Judiciary Committee, requested Chief Justice John Roberts appear before the panel on May 2 to answer questions about ethics rules governing the Supreme Court and potential reforms following a series of revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas' close ties to a billionaire Republican donor.

In a letter to Roberts on Thursday, Durbin invited the chief justice or "another justice whom you designate" to testify before the committee at a public hearing on the ethics rules. The Illinois Democrat said the scope of Roberts' potential testimony could be limited to only the subjects of the ethics measures and potential reforms to them, and he would not be expected to answer questions from committee members about other matters. 

"The time has come for a new public conversation on ways to restore confidence in the court's ethical standards," Durbin wrote. "I invite you to join it, and I look forward to your response."