The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has sent a letter to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. demanding he meet with him to discuss the Supreme Court’s “ethics crisis” and the need for Justice Samuel A. Alito’s recusal from pending cases.

Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, Illinois Democrat, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Democrat, said in a four-page letter that the latest reports of Justice Alito flying two flags at his homes which were also displayed by Jan. 6 rioters ran afoul of ethics guidelines.

“By displaying the upside-down and ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flags outside his homes, Justice Alito actively engaged in political activity, failed to avoid the appearance of impropriety, and failed to act in a manner that promotes public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary. He also created reasonable doubt about his impartiality and his ability to fairly discharge his duties in cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol. His recusal in these matters is both necessary and required,” wrote the senators.

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The New York Times reported that Justice Alito flew an “Appeal to Heaven” flag at his Long Beach Island, New Jersey, vacation home in 2023.

The Times called the flag, which dates from the American Revolution, a symbol for “a more Christian-minded government” and also was carried on Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol riot.

It’s the second article from the same paper in just under a week about Justice Alito flying flags at his residences.

Last week, the outlet reported Justice Alito flew an upside-down U.S. flag at his Alexandria, Virginia, home in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot.

Democratic lawmakers called it a public display of political activity, which would run afoul of judicial ethics. One House lawmaker introduced a censure resolution that demands that the justice recuse from any case related to the 2020 election.

It was the latest call for recusal. Mr. Durbin previously said the justice must recuse from the case about former President Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for contesting the 2020 election results.

Mr. Durbin reiterated those calls for recusal over the “Appeal to Heaven” flag was also flown.

That flag, also known as the Pine Tree Flag from the only element besides the phrase on the flag’s white background, was used during the American Revolution. It was originally flown by a squadron of six frigates commissioned in 1775 by George Washington.

The phrase “appeal to heaven” dates from 17th-century English political philosopher John Locke, who used it to characterize revolution as what an oppressed people have when there is no recourse on earth. Locke was one of the most cited philosophers in the Colonial period and among America’s founders.

Justice Alito’s flag flaps started when the newspaper published a Jan. 17, 2021, photograph of the upside-down American flag at his house. The upside-down flag was a symbol of Mr. Trump’s “Stop the Steal” movement in 2020, according to the newspaper.

Justice Alito told the newspaper that he wasn’t responsible for the flag.

“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” he said. “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”

He did not comment on the “Appeal to Heaven” flag.

The high court has been weighing two major disputes this term over whether Mr. Trump is immune from charges stemming from his contest of the 2020 election results and also another dispute over an obstruction charge facing hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants, including Mr. Trump.

The opinions are expected by the end of June.