President Biden is planning to unveil a proposal that would overhaul the Supreme Court, including implementing term limits for justices, an enforceable code of ethics, and a constitutional amendment limiting immunity for presidents and officials in public office. This plan is set to be presented during Biden’s visit to Lyndon Johnson’s presidential library in Austin. Biden announced his intention to push for Supreme Court reform during his recent Oval Office address, stating that it is critical to democracy.
However, the president’s three-pronged plan faces significant challenges. Congressional legislation would be required to enforce a code of ethics and impose term limits on Supreme Court justices, which is unlikely to happen given the divided Congress during Biden’s remaining time in office. Additionally, Biden’s push for a constitutional amendment limiting immunity for presidents would require strong support from both the House and the Senate or approval from three-fourths of state legislatures in convention, which is a challenging task.
The left-wing of the Democratic Party has been calling for changes to the Supreme Court, including expanding the court or implementing term limits, ever since former President Trump appointed three conservative justices during his term. Democrats have also been advocating for ethics reform following revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas failing to disclose trips with a wealthy Republican donor friend. The White House has yet to respond to requests for comments on Biden’s proposal.
Overall, Biden’s proposal to overhaul the Supreme Court is part of his efforts to prioritize reforms during his remaining time in office. The plan includes term limits for justices, an enforceable code of ethics, and a constitutional amendment to limit immunity for presidents and officials in power. However, implementing these changes would require significant legislative support, which may be challenging given the current political climate and division in Congress. Despite the obstacles, Biden remains committed to pushing for Supreme Court reform as a crucial aspect of maintaining democracy.
