President Joe Biden is reportedly finalizing plans to introduce significant reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court, including term limits for justices and the implementation of an enforceable ethics code. Additionally, Biden is considering a constitutional amendment to eliminate immunity for presidents and other officeholders, according to sources briefed on the plans.
These developments come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, which favored former President Donald Trump. This decision has prompted Biden to seek measures aimed at enhancing accountability and ensuring that no one, including the president, is above the law.
In a Zoom call with the Congressional Progressive Caucus on Saturday, Biden outlined his intentions. “I’m going to need your help on the Supreme Court because I’m about to come out — I don’t want to prematurely announce it — but I’m about to come out with a major initiative on limiting the court,” he said. Biden has reportedly been collaborating with constitutional scholars for the past three months to craft these reforms.
Article III of the U.S. Constitution provides that justices “shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour,” which typically means they serve for life unless impeached. Changing this would require a constitutional amendment, a process that necessitates broad legislative support.
Biden’s remarks on the Supreme Court’s decision were pointed. “No one is above the law, not even the President of the United States. With today’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed,” he stated. He argued that the ruling undermines the rule of law and contributes to a broader pattern of challenging established legal norms.
The timing of Biden’s proposed reforms coincides with increased calls from within his party for him to drop out of the 2024 presidential race following a disappointing debate performance. Nevertheless, Biden remains focused on pursuing judicial reforms, emphasizing their importance in preserving the integrity and accountability of the U.S. legal system.
As the political landscape evolves, Biden’s proposed changes to the Supreme Court are likely to spark substantial debate and require concerted effort to achieve legislative success.
