Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic-backed bill on Wednesday that aimed to mandate Supreme Court justices adopt a binding code of conduct.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin argued for the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act, citing the need to uphold higher ethical standards in the nation’s highest court.

Durbin attempted to pass the bill through “unanimous consent,” but faced immediate opposition from GOP senators led by Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Graham and others criticized the legislation as an unconstitutional intrusion that would hinder the court’s effectiveness, with Sen. John Kennedy alleging it was motivated by dissatisfaction over recent court decisions like Roe v. Wade.

Democrats countered, highlighting the bill’s role in promoting transparency and safeguarding the court’s credibility, NBC News has reported.

The SCERT Act sought to enforce a code of conduct for justices, establish protocols for investigating misconduct, mandate recusal explanations, and enhance disclosure requirements in cases involving justices’ affiliations.

Written by B.C. Begley