President Joe Biden has unveiled a comprehensive plan to reform the US Supreme Court, aiming to address what he calls a ‘crisis of trust in democratic institutions’. The proposal, set to be presented in a speech at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, includes three major changes: 18-year term limits for justices, a binding code of ethics, and a constitutional amendment to clarify that former presidents are not immune from prosecution for crimes committed during their term.Under the proposed system, the president would appoint a new justice every two years. The binding code of conduct and ethics rules for justices aim to address recent controversies surrounding some members of the court, particularly Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, over undeclared gifts and potential conflicts of interest.Perhaps most notably, Biden is pushing for a constitutional amendment to reverse the court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity, emphasizing that ‘no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States or a Supreme Court judge’. This comes in the wake of several controversial decisions by the court’s conservative majority, including limiting abortion rights and federal regulatory powers.Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed the reforms, stating that they will ‘help to restore confidence in the Court, strengthen our democracy, and ensure no one is above the law’. The White House has expressed eagerness to work with Congress on these projects.However, the reforms face significant challenges. With a deeply divided Congress and only months left in Biden’s term, the proposals have little chance of becoming law. Critics, including Republicans, argue that the reforms are a desperate attempt to ‘play the ref’ and interfere in the upcoming presidential election.Despite these obstacles, the White House hopes the proposal will focus voters’ attention on the issue of judicial reform as the country approaches the November 2024 presidential election. The move comes as Biden ends his re-election bid and endorses Vice President Kamala Harris to run against Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Key points
- President Biden proposes 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices, a binding ethics code, and a constitutional amendment on presidential immunity.
- Vice President Kamala Harris endorses the reforms, emphasizing their importance for strengthening democracy.
- The proposals face significant challenges in a divided Congress and are unlikely to become law during Biden’s term.
Contradictions👾While most sources report that the reforms have little chance of passing through Congress, some articles suggest that the White House is eager to work with Congress on these projects, implying a more optimistic outlook.
