Joe Biden Calls for Comprehensive Reform of the US Supreme Court.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden announced plans to reform the Supreme Court, which is currently dominated by conservatives. This bold move, aimed at making an impact during his final six months in office, includes proposals for 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices and an enforceable ethics code. The plan, supported by Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the presumptive Democratic nominee for the upcoming election, calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn the court's recent ruling that supported former President Donald Trump's claims of presidential immunity.

Biden, 81, emphasized the need for reform as he spoke to reporters before heading to Austin, Texas, where he planned to deliver a speech outlining his proposals. The initiative follows a series of controversial Supreme Court decisions, including the 2022 repeal of the nationwide right to abortion, and numerous scandals involving the court's lifetime-appointed justices.

While these reforms are unlikely to pass in the sharply divided US Congress, they could galvanize Democratic voters for the November 2024 election. Biden, who recently dropped out of the presidential race, wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece that his proposals aim to demonstrate that "no one is above the law."

In a recent Oval Office address, Biden confirmed his commitment to pursuing these reforms as part of his remaining agenda in the White House. Harris echoed his call, urging Congress to pass the reforms, which she argued would help restore confidence in the Court, strengthen democracy, and ensure accountability.

However, Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have strongly opposed the plan, claiming it would disrupt the balance of power and erode public trust in the justice system. Legal expert Steven Schwinn noted that Biden's chances of passing the reform are "close to zero," but suggested that the President might be trying to raise public awareness and make the Supreme Court an election issue.

The Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, significantly influences American life on issues ranging from reproductive rights to environmental policies. Trump's appointments of three justices during his presidency have raised concerns among Democrats about the potential for further conservative appointments in a second term.

Biden's shift toward supporting court reform comes after several Supreme Court rulings that have challenged his policies, including overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, limiting federal agency powers, and blocking Biden's student debt forgiveness plan. The court has also partially sided with Trump's claims of immunity, which he is now using to challenge his recent criminal conviction and other legal issues.

The Supreme Court has also faced scrutiny over ethics scandals, particularly involving conservative justices. Justice Clarence Thomas recently acknowledged that two luxury vacations he took in 2019 were funded by a billionaire Republican donor. Additionally, Justice Samuel Alito has been criticized for not recusing himself from cases related to Trump, despite allegations of bias.