US President Joe Biden Unveils Plans for Supreme Court Reforms
In a bold but long-shot move, US President Joe Biden has announced plans to reform the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, seeking to make a mark in his last six months in power. The 81-year-old Democrat is calling for a constitutional amendment to reverse the court’s recent ruling backing Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity, as well as term limits for Supreme Court justices and an enforceable ethics code.
Biden’s proposals come as opinion polls show a growing loss of public confidence in the institution, following a series of shock rulings, including the repeal of the nationwide right to abortion and significant rollbacks of federal agencies’ power. The court has also been rocked by ethics scandals involving arch-conservative justices, including Justice Clarence Thomas’s admission that two luxury vacations were paid for by a billionaire Republican political donor.
The White House said that both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for November’s election, “look forward to working with Congress” on the plans. However, legal expert Steven Schwinn warned that Biden’s chances of getting the plan through are “close to zero.”
Despite the slim chances of success, Biden’s proposals reflect his growing frustration with a court packed with Trump-appointed judges. The President believes that the reforms are necessary to restore public trust in the institution and ensure that no single presidency has undue influence for generations to come.
In an opinion piece published Monday, Biden emphasized the importance of upholding the principle that no one is above the law, including the President and Supreme Court justices. He also warned that the current state of affairs is “not normal” and undermines public confidence in the court’s decisions.
The proposed reforms are likely to be met with resistance from Republican lawmakers, who have long been critical of Biden’s efforts to reform the court. However, the President’s plan is seen as a last-ditch effort to make a mark on the institution before he leaves office.
In the meantime, the Supreme Court remains a contentious issue in American politics, with many Democrats calling for its reform or expansion. The court’s conservative majority has dealt Biden’s administration several blows, including the overturning of the nationwide right to abortion and significant rollbacks of federal agencies’ power.
As the election season heats up, the Supreme Court is likely to remain a key issue, with many voters expressing concerns about the court’s impact on their lives and the country’s future.
