Key takeaways from Senate hearing on Supreme Court ethics

Supreme Court ethics and questions surrounding the conduct of Justice Clarence Thomas were on full display Tuesday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

The panel heard from a range of legal experts on whether Congress has the authority to require the high court to adopt an enforaceable code of conduct. Democrats have pushed for such legislation following reports scrutinizing Justice Thomas' nondisclosure of private luxury travel and accommodations from a wealthy Republican donor.

"How low can the court go?" chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., asked as the hearing kicked off.

"We wouldn't tolerate this from a city council member or an alderman," Durbin added. "It falls short of ethical standards we expect of any public servant in America. And yet the Supreme Court won't even acknowledge it's a problem."