U.S. Supreme Court justices attend as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, March 7, 2024.
Evelyn Hochstein | Reuters
President Joe Biden on Monday unveiled a three-pronged proposal to reform the Supreme Court, which he said will be central to his remaining months in office.
Biden calls for term limits Supreme Court Judges, a binding ethics code and a constitutional amendment declare that presidents are not immune from criminal prosecution for any crimes committed while in office.
The proposed amendment, titled “No One Above the Law,” responds to a controversial Supreme Court ruling that declared former President Donald Trump immune from criminal prosecution for “official acts” he performed as president.
Biden’s proposed code of ethics comes after several Supreme Court justices, including Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, were embroiled in scandals involving undisclosed financial gifts that created major conflicts of interest.
During his administration, Biden has been vocal about his criticism of the largely conservative Supreme Court, which struck down federal abortion protections, limited the use of affirmative action in college admissions and struck down the president’s student loan relief plan.
Following the Supreme Court’s 6-3 immunity ruling, Biden issued a sweeping condemnation: “This decision continues the Court’s onslaught in recent years of stripping away long-established legal principles, voting rights, and civil liberties in our country. Today’s decision undermines the rule of law in this country and takes away a woman’s right to choose.” Rights.”
Biden’s new reform plan comes more than a week after he dropped out of the race against Trump and instead endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden said overhauling the Supreme Court will be a priority as he works to cement his legacy within six months of leaving the presidency.
“I am calling for Supreme Court reform because it is critical to our democracy,” Biden said in a national address from the Oval Office last Wednesday.
However, turning his proposals into law would require congressional approval, which would be an uphill battle given the current partisan divide in Congress. Specifically, a new constitutional amendment requires two-thirds majority approval of both the House and the Senate.
The president is scheduled to address his new reform plans in a speech in Texas later Monday at the LBJ Presidential Library.
