Former President Biden highlighted the significant impact the next president could have on the Supreme Court, potentially appointing two justices, which could further solidify a conservative majority if Trump were to win.
President Biden, speaking at a high-profile fundraising event in Los Angeles, recently stressed the importance of the upcoming presidential elections concerning the future composition of the U.S. Supreme Court. The president mentioned that the election's victor might get the opportunity to appoint two justices to the court.
According to NPR, Biden expressed his apprehension over the possibility of his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, returning to office and appointing more conservative justices. Trump has already significantly shifted the court's balance during his term by appointing three justices, bolstering the conservative majority.
The fundraising event in Los Angeles not only featured President Biden but also drew celebrities like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and former President Barack Obama. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, it successfully raised $28 million, marking a record for such a gathering.
The context of Biden’s remarks was punctuated by recent judicial actions and public political signals, such as the incident involving Justice Samuel Alito’s wife, who notably displayed an upside-down U.S. flag—a recognized distress signal. This act was perceived by many as a poignant political statement in the wake of the Capitol riot on January 6th.
President Biden’s engagement with the Supreme Court topic was not limited to the fundraiser. He previously accentuated the imperative of progressive judicial appointments during a campaign rally in Philadelphia, targeting engagement from Black voters.
His administration's commitment to this cause was evident in his appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
During a moderated conversation at the fundraiser, President Biden discussed the ramifications of potential conservative appointments by Trump, specifically the potential implications for rulings on significant issues such as abortion rights.
Biden elaborated on his concerns by referencing the broader implications of judicial appointments under Trump. He emphasized how transformative progressive judges could be compared to the disruptive influence he attributes to the justices appointed by Trump.
Biden explained:
Look: if, in fact, we’re able to change some of the justices when they retire and put in really progressive judges like we’ve always had, tell me that won’t change your life when Trump justices are already gutting voting rights, overturning Roe, decimating affirmative action, and so much more.
This dialogue reminds us of how judicial appointments can touch on various fundamental rights and the broader societal norms in the United States.
Before arriving in Los Angeles, President Biden attended the G7 summit in Italy, an engagement marking his commitment to both domestic and international issues. His remarks at the summit were consistent with his advocacy for justice and equal rights, as reiterated through his campaign engagements and his administration's actions.
President Biden's remarks at the Los Angeles fundraiser serve as a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in the forthcoming presidential election, particularly regarding the Supreme Court's future composition. The president's warnings about potential appointments by Trump reflect a deep concern about maintaining and advancing judicial progressivism to safeguard individual rights and societal values.
