President Joe Biden has put forth a series of significant proposals aimed at reforming the U.S. Supreme Court. These proposals include the establishment of an enforceable code of ethics, implementation of term limits for justices, and a constitutional amendment to restrict the recent decision on presidential immunity.
Term Limits for Justices
Biden's plan involves limiting justices to 18-year terms, a move supported by a majority of Americans. However, implementing term limits would require a constitutional amendment, as federal judges currently have lifetime tenure.
Enforcing a Code of Ethics
The Supreme Court adopted a code of ethics last year but lacks a mechanism for enforcement. Biden advocates for making the ethical code enforceable, a step that could pose challenges in terms of implementation and oversight.
Presidential Immunity
Biden is pushing for a constitutional amendment to clarify that former presidents, including Donald Trump, are not immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. This proposal faces significant hurdles in terms of the amendment process.
Resistance and Criticism
While Biden has resisted calls for Supreme Court reform in the past, his recent proposals come amid mounting Democratic discontent with the court's decisions. The likelihood of these ideas passing through Congress remains low, with opposition from Republicans and conservative groups.
Despite the challenges, Biden's proposals have sparked debate and drawn attention to the issue of Supreme Court reform ahead of the upcoming election.
