US President Joe Biden has unveiled a bold plan to reform the conservative-dominated Supreme Court in his final six months in office, despite the slim chances of success. The 81-year-old Democrat is proposing a constitutional amendment to overturn the court’s recent decision supporting Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity, according to the White House.
In addition, Biden is advocating for term limits for Supreme Court justices, who currently serve for life, following controversial rulings such as the overturning of the nationwide right to abortion. He is also seeking an enforceable ethics code in response to a series of scandals involving the justices.
“This nation was founded on a simple yet profound principle: 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,” Biden wrote in an opinion piece published Monday.
“What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms. We now stand in a breach”, he added.
The proposed reforms, which Biden will further discuss in a speech in Austin, Texas, reflect his growing frustration with a court packed with Trump-appointed judges and come as opinion polls show a growing loss of public confidence in the institution. However, the chances of these reforms passing through a deeply divided Congress are slim.
Legal expert Steven Schwinn told AFP that Biden’s plan has a “close to zero” chance of success, but the President is likely trying to raise public awareness and make the Supreme Court a key issue in the upcoming election.
Despite the challenges, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic nominee for November’s election, have shown commitment to working with Congress on these plans.
In addition, Biden is advocating for term limits for Supreme Court justices, who currently serve for life, following controversial rulings such as the overturning of the nationwide right to abortion. He is also seeking an enforceable ethics code in response to a series of scandals involving the justices.
“This nation was founded on a simple yet profound principle: 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,” Biden wrote in an opinion piece published Monday.
“What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms. We now stand in a breach”, he added.
The proposed reforms, which Biden will further discuss in a speech in Austin, Texas, reflect his growing frustration with a court packed with Trump-appointed judges and come as opinion polls show a growing loss of public confidence in the institution. However, the chances of these reforms passing through a deeply divided Congress are slim.
Legal expert Steven Schwinn told AFP that Biden’s plan has a “close to zero” chance of success, but the President is likely trying to raise public awareness and make the Supreme Court a key issue in the upcoming election.
Despite the challenges, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic nominee for November’s election, have shown commitment to working with Congress on these plans.
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