Biden calls for Supreme Court overhaul, including term limits
Biden calls for Supreme Court overhaul, including term limits and binding ethics code
Source: Hisham Ibrahim / Getty
President Joe Biden is calling for broad reform of the U.S. Supreme Court, including term limits for justices, a binding code of ethics, and a constitutional amendment to limit the high court’s recent presidential immunity ruling.
Biden’s Supreme Court reform proposals
In an op-ed published Monday morning, President Biden outlined the three-pronged proposal that he called a means to “restore trust and accountability” in America’s democratic institutions. It includes the following:
- Justices to be nominated by the sitting president every two years to serve an 18-year term on the Supreme Court
- Congress to pass legislation that requires justices to disclose gifts, refrain from political involvement, and recuse themselves from cases in which they or their spouses have a conflict of interest
- A constitutional amendment stating that any current or former presidents are not immune from federal prosecution for any crimes committed while in office.
The announcement comes after months of public scrutiny and scandals surrounding the Supreme Court and its justices, including growing concerns over accountability — or lack thereof. But the White House supporting a new legislative check on the Supreme Court is one of the most significant formal efforts to rebalance U.S. governmental powers in recent memory.
“I have overseen more Supreme Court nominations as senator, vice president and president than anyone living today,” said President Biden. “I have great respect for our institutions and separation of powers. What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms.”
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