After Judge Aileen Cannon declared special counsel Jack Smith's appointment unconstitutional, some Democrats have seized on the opportunity to push for Supreme Court reform. Cannon's ruling referenced a footnote from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's concurring opinion in the Trump immunity case, which supported a novel legal theory that some Democrats have embraced.
Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson criticized Thomas for providing a roadmap for the issue to return to him and his colleagues. Johnson suggested that Cannon's ruling could be seen as an audition to join Thomas on the Supreme Court, insinuating that Thomas and his associates may benefit from wealthy interests.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a vocal advocate for Supreme Court reform, expressed concern over the influence of wealthy individuals and Clarence Thomas on the judiciary. He emphasized the need for ethical standards for justices and called for an investigation into Justices Thomas and Alito.
Democrats have intensified their efforts to reform the Supreme Court in response to decisions they disagree with and allegations of misconduct. Calls for an enforceable code of ethics for justices and even articles of impeachment against certain justices have been made by prominent Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senators Whitehouse and Wyden.
