WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — The Supreme Court is adopting its first code of ethics, a response to criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices.

The policy was issued by the court Monday and is posted on its website.

The code introduction says "it largely represents a codification of principles that we have long regarded as governing our conduct."

The justices, who have hinted at internal deliberations over an ethics code, last met Thursday in their private conference room at the court.

The issue has vexed the court for several months, over a series of stories questioning the ethical practices of the justices. Many of those stories focused on Justice Clarence Thomas and his failure to disclose travel and other financial ties with wealthy conservative donors including Harlan Crow and the Koch brothers. But Justices Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor also have been under scrutiny.

Three justices, Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh, have voiced support for an ethics code in recent months. In May, Chief Justice John Roberts said there was more the court could do to “adhere to the highest ethical standards,” without providing any specifics.

Public trust in and approval of the court is hovering near record lows, according to a Gallup Poll released just before the court’s new term began on Oct. 2.

As recently as last week, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the justices could quiet some of the criticism and a Democratic push to impose an ethics code on the court by putting in place their own policy.

Republicans complained that Democrats were mostly reacting to decisions they didn’t like from the conservative-dominated court, including overturning the nationwide right to an abortion.

The court’s initial step on ethics, in the spring, did not mollify critics.

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