According to Fox News, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are aiming to incorporate sweeping reforms involving the U.S. Supreme Court and presidential powers.
The proposed measures would impose term limits on Supreme Court justices, establish a robust code of conduct, and limit immunity for former presidents.
The announcement was made during a speech at the LBJ Presidential Library, coincidentally with the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. This move marks a significant pivot in Biden's political focus following his decision not to seek re-election in 2024.
Central to these declared reforms is the implementation of an 18-year term limit for Supreme Court justices. This judicial modification aims to modernize the highest court, which has remained unchanged in its basic structure since its inception.
In further details shared by Biden, the reforms extend beyond the Supreme Court to the presidency itself. Notably, a measure that would remove immunity for crimes a president might commit while in office is included in the proposed changes. This aligns with Biden's vision of enhancing the transparency and accountability of executive actions.
These reforms also aim to instill a comprehensive code of conduct tailored for Supreme Court justices. This new code would require justices to disclose any gifts they receive, refrain from political engagements, and refrain from participating in cases where their impartiality might be compromised.
Given the sweeping nature of these reforms, Vice President Harris, a presidential candidate, has voiced strong support. She pointed out the pressing need for these changes against diminishing public trust in the Supreme Court, exacerbated by recent ethics scandals and divisive rulings.
Their joint initiative addresses specific conflicts and underscores a broader concern over the waning faith in judicial and presidential processes—an issue both leaders deem crucial to tackle head-on.
President Biden wrote about his extensive experience and concern in an op-ed for the Washington Post:
I served as a U.S. senator for 36 years, including as chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. I have overseen more Supreme Court nominations as a senator, vice president, and president than anyone living today. 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. We now stand in a breach.
The proposed initiatives were set into motion just before the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which is scheduled to be held in Chicago. At this event, the party's nominations for the forthcoming electoral battle will be confirmed via a virtual roll call, a measure taken to sidestep potential legal complications.
A White House official explicitly communicated the goals of these innovative proposals, outlining an agenda focused on "preventing presidential power abuse, restoring faith in the Supreme Court, and fortifying the guardrails of our democracy."
These reforms stem from a broader conversation about the role and influence of the judiciary and executive in America. They represent a dual effort by Biden and Harris to reconfigure the landscape of American judicial and executive practices and redefine their leadership legacies amid evolving national challenges.
In closing, the ambitious agenda offers a holistic makeover of key U.S. democratic institutions. It proposes an 18-year term limit for Supreme Court justices, a detailed code of conduct for the court, and a bold step of restricting presidential immunity – measures Biden and Harris believe are crucial for restoring public trust and strengthening democratic foundations.
