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 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, requiring justices to disclose gifts, refrain from public political activity, and recuse themselves from cases with conflicts of interest.Biden has been particularly critical of the court’s recent decision granting broad immunity to presidents for official acts while in office, calling it ‘dangerous and extreme’. He emphasized that ‘no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States or a Supreme Court judge’.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 strong opposition from Republicans, the proposals have little chance of becoming law. The process of amending the Constitution is particularly daunting, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.Despite these obstacles, Biden and his supporters hope the proposal will focus voters’ attention on the issue of judicial reform as the country approaches the November 2024 presidential election. Critics, including Republicans, argue that the reforms are a ‘dangerous gambit’ that would ‘shred’ the Constitution.
Key points
- President Biden has proposed comprehensive reforms to the US Supreme Court, including 18-year term limits for justices and a binding code of ethics.
- Biden is pushing for a constitutional amendment to reverse the court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity.
- The reforms face significant challenges in a divided Congress and strong Republican opposition.
- Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed the reforms, stating they will help restore confidence in the Court.
