Delaware’s two U.S. senators have asked the federal appeals court serving the state to review whether Judge Jennifer Lee Mascott’s work for her late husband’s public relations firm violated judicial ethics rules. Democratic Sens. Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester filed a complaint with the Third Circuit on Oct. 2, asking the court to examine Mascott’s outside business activities and possible political work. The complaint follows media reports that she remained involved in Adfero after joining the Philadelphia-based court, which hears appeals from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mascott, a conservative legal scholar who served in both Trump administrations, was nominated by President Donald Trump to the 14-member court last year. She had not previously served as a judge. Her Delaware connection was a vacation home in Bethany Beach, and she is not a member of the state bar. The senators’ complaint cites reporting that former Adfero employees described Mascott as closely involved in the firm’s daily operations for at least six months after she became a judge. It also raises reports that Mascott hired consultants with strong Republican Party ties and that at least two clients left the firm because they believed its work was becoming more partisan. Adfero closed June 30, according to press accounts. Federal judicial ethics rules allow a judge to work for a closely held business controlled by family members, but say that work may be barred if it consumes too much time or uses the prestige of judicial office. The senators argue that the reported management role warrants review under those limits. They also cite the code’s guidance that judges should avoid political activity, pointing to the firm’s marketing work aimed at influencing elected officials. The complaint notes that Mascott has written three opinions since joining the court, two of them roughly a page long. Coons and Blunt Rochester said they were concerned that her outside activities may have taken time from her judicial work. They said their goal was to ensure the court’s judges could serve Delaware without ethical conflicts or distractions. Coons said he filed the complaint after reports raised questions about Mascott’s work for the firm. Mascott did not respond to a request for comment. Third Circuit Executive Margaret Wiegand said she could not comment. Legal experts offered differing assessments. Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor who studies federal courts, said the ethics rules are not entirely clear but that the questions raised by the senators are legitimate. He said it was uncertain whether the complaint was the best way to address them. Wilmington lawyer Tom Neuberger, a former member of a Third Circuit advisory committee, said he doubted Mascott had violated the rules. He argued that her involvement was part of winding down a family business after her husband’s death and accused the senators of making a partisan attack. Coons said the complaint concerns the conduct of a sitting judge, regardless of political party. Mascott succeeded Kent Jordan, a longtime Delaware lawyer and former federal prosecutor who retired from the court. Tamika R. Montgomery-Reeves is the other Delaware-based judge on the Third Circuit. The court is one of 12 federal regional appeals courts, whose decisions can be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.