President Joe Biden has introduced a plan aimed at fundamentally transforming the U.S. Supreme Court.
His proposal includes implementing term limits and a binding code of conduct for its nine justices, alongside a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, as reported in an op-ed for the Washington Post.
The Push for Ethical Oversight in the Supreme Court
In his call for reform, Biden cited “recent ethics scandals” involving justices and controversial court rulings to justify the need for these major changes.
He argues that these reforms are necessary to “restore trust and accountability” in America’s democratic institutions.
Republican Opposition Labels Plan as Unconstitutional
Republicans have sharply criticized Biden’s proposal, calling it a “radical” and “dangerous gambit” that they claim will never pass through Congress due to its unconstitutional nature.
They argue that the proposed changes would disrupt the judicial system’s balance of power.
Senator Mike Lee’s Response
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee, an attorney, has expressed strong opposition to Biden’s plans.
He told the Daily Mail, “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are trying to destroy the independence of the Supreme Court because they can’t control it.”
Allegations of Court Packing
Amidst discussions on judicial reform, there is a growing debate over “court packing” — a strategy to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court.
This is being considered because some justices have blocked what Democrats consider important progressive measures.
House Speaker Mike Johnson Declares Proposal DOA
House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “This dangerous gambit of the Biden-Harris Administration is dead on arrival in the House.”
This emphasizes that the proposal overreaches in terms of judicial reform and could damage public faith in the legal system.
Leonard Leo Criticizes Biden’s Intentions
Leonard Leo, a former Federalist Society executive, has criticized the president’s motives, arguing that the plan is essentially an attack on a court that opposes Democratic views.
He said, “It’s about Democrats destroying a court they don’t agree with.”
Broader Calls for Ethical Reform Questioned
While President Biden advocates for ethical reform across all branches of government, critics argue that the real issues of corruption lie within Congress.
Leonard Leo suggested starting there, stating, “If President Biden and the Democrats were truly serious about ethics reform, then they would ban all gifts and hospitality of any kind to any public official in any branch of government, starting with Congress.”
Upcoming Speech in Austin, Texas
President Biden is scheduled to outline his Supreme Court proposals in greater detail during a forthcoming speech in Austin, Texas.
This address is anticipated to clarify how he intends to implement these significant changes.
Democratic Strategy Leading into Elections
Democrats hope that focusing on these proposed reforms will help highlight the Supreme Court’s recent decisions ahead of the upcoming elections.
They believe this focus could influence voters’ perceptions and votes.
Biden’s Commentary in Washington Post Op-Ed
In a Washington Post op-ed, President Biden emphasized that “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.”
He expressed deep respect for the institutions and the need for these reforms to maintain public trust in the court’s decisions.
Criticism from Republican Rep. Lance Gooden
Republican Rep. Lance Gooden commented on the proposal’s irony, given Biden’s political career and his push for judicial term limits.
His statement on X, formerly Twitter, highlighted the contradiction in seeking to impose limits on an independent judicial branch because the court’s decisions have not always aligned with the administration’s preferences.
