US President Joe Biden has proposed major reforms for the Supreme Court, urging Congress to introduce term limits for justices and enforce stricter ethics rules.
In a Monday opinion piece, Biden argued that these reforms are essential to “restore trust and accountability to the court and our democracy.” He suggested setting justices’ terms to 18 years and adopting a stricter ethics code, similar to those for federal judges.
Biden is also advocating for a constitutional amendment to counter the Supreme Court’s recent ruling supporting Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity. “Our nation was founded on a core principle: No one is above the law,” Biden stated in The Washington Post. “Not the president. Not a Supreme Court justice. No one.”
Despite his commitment to these reforms, Biden, who will not seek re-election, faces significant challenges in getting them enacted. With Congress divided and Republicans controlling the House, analysts consider the likelihood of these proposals passing to be slim.
However, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren suggested that this push could influence voters in the upcoming elections, potentially benefiting Democratic candidates and increasing the chances of passing the reforms with a supportive Congress.
The White House indicated that both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the expected Democratic nominee for the next election, are eager to work with Congress to advance these reforms. Biden is expected to detail his plan further in a speech in Austin, Texas.
The Supreme Court, currently dominated by a 6-3 conservative majority with three justices appointed by Trump, has made several decisions unfavourable to Biden and the Democratic Party. These include overturning Roe v. Wade and limiting federal agencies’ powers.
Additionally, the court has been embroiled in ethics controversies, such as Justice Clarence Thomas accepting luxury vacations from a political donor and Justice Samuel Alito facing calls for recusal from Trump-related cases.
Trump has criticized the reform efforts as a partisan attempt to undermine the justice system and interfere with elections.
