US President Joe Biden, seen delivering remarks in this file photo, announced significant Supreme Court reform plans on Monday, aiming to make a lasting impact in his final six months in office.
In a move endorsed by Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, Biden proposed 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices and the establishment of an enforceable ethics code. He also called for a constitutional amendment to overturn a recent Supreme Court ruling that supported Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity.
Biden’s announcement follows a series of controversial Supreme Court decisions, including the repeal of nationwide abortion rights, and comes amidst scandals involving lifetime-appointed justices. Although the proposed reforms face slim chances in a divided US Congress, they could energize Democratic voters ahead of the November 2024 election, from which Biden withdrew just over a week ago.
“What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms,” Biden wrote in an opinion piece for the Washington Post. “We now stand in a breach.”
He emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “No one is above the law. Not the president of the United States. Not a justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. No one.”
Harris echoed Biden’s sentiments, urging Congress to pass the proposed reforms. “These popular reforms will help to restore confidence in the Court, strengthen our democracy, and ensure no one is above the law,” she said.
Biden plans to further elaborate on his proposals in a speech in Austin, Texas, later on Monday. Last week, he confirmed his commitment to these reforms during an Oval Office address outlining his priorities after deciding to step out of the 2024 election race.
News Editor