Biden set to support term limits, new ethics code for Supreme Court: report
President Biden is set to announce his support for major Supreme Court changes – including imposing term limits and enforcing an ethics code, according to a new report.
The president spoke about his intentions on a Zoom call with the Congressional Progressive caucus on Saturday, according to the Washington Post, which cited two people familiar with the call.
“I’m going to need your help on the Supreme Court, because I’m about to come out – I don’t want to prematurely announce it – but I’m about to come out with a major initiative on limiting the court,” Biden said on the call, according to Washington Post.
“I’ve been working with constitutional scholars for the last three months, and I need some help,” he added.
Biden is also considering calling for a constitutional amendment to remove the broad immunity for presidents and other constitutional office holders that was solidified in former President Donald Trump’s recent Supreme Court win, according to the outlet.
Biden, 81, has pondered making changes to the Supreme Court for years. In 2021, his commission on examining potential changes to the court warned that increasing the number of justices to the court could hurt its legitimacy.
The left-wing of the Democratic Party has called for either an expansion of the court or imposing term limits since Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices during his first term, expanding the majority to 6-3.
The conservative-leaning court has made several decisions during Biden’s presidency that Democrats see as drawbacks, including overturning Roe v. Wade and affirming presidential immunity for all “official acts” — putting Trump’s Jan. 6 case into question.
The move would also come as Biden’s supporters have been outraged over ethics concerns surrounding Justice Clarence Thomas. Critics have argued that Thomas’ failure to disclose trips with his wealthy donor friend Harlan Crow violated the Ethics in Government Act.
Four Biden proposals to remake the Supreme Court and backed by Harris:
- The Supreme Court justices would be limited to 18 years on the bench.
- Presidents could only nominate one justice every two years.
- A new ethics code would require justices to disclose gifts, not engage in political activities and avoid conflicts of interest involving themselves or their spouses.
- A constitutional amendment would reverse the court’s ruling that presidents have immunity for their actions in office.
Biden’s proposal would face many hurdles. The term limits and ethics code would require congressional approval.
A Constitutional amendment would be even more difficult to achieve, as two-thirds of both the House and Senate would have to approve the measure, or pass through a convention of two-thirds of states and approval by three-fourths of state legislatures.
Trump issued a statement condemning Biden’s potential proposal on Truth Social.
“The Democrats are attempting to interfere in the Presidential Election, and destroy our Justice System, by attacking their Political Opponent, ME, and our Honorable Supreme Court,” he said. “We have to fight for our Fair and Independent Courts, and protect our Country.”
The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Post.
