Story perspectives

Barrett, Alito Recuse Without Explanation, Prompt Ethics Reform Calls

6/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court gave no reasons for Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s and Justice Samuel Alito’s recusals from two appellate cases.
Barrett recused from the Seventh Circuit’s Eural Black sentencing case and Alito from the Fourth Circuit’s pension-benefits dispute, each citing standard practice or ethics rules with no disclosed conflict.
The recusals have revived bipartisan calls for clearer Supreme Court ethics guidelines and more detailed recusal disclosures.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court gave no reasons for Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s and Justice Samuel Alito’s recusals from two appellate cases.
Barrett recused from the Seventh Circuit’s Eural Black sentencing case and Alito from the Fourth Circuit’s pension-benefits dispute, each citing standard practice or ethics rules with no disclosed conflict.
The recusals have revived bipartisan calls for clearer Supreme Court ethics guidelines and more detailed recusal disclosures.