Biden to unveil US Supreme Court reforms, including term limits, binding code of conduct
- Biden will propose sweeping reforms to the Supreme Court, but a deeply-divided Congress means the changes have little chance of becoming law
US President Joe Biden announced plans on Monday for urgent reforms to the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, in a bold but long-shot move as he seeks to make a mark in his last six months in power.
The 81-year-old is calling for a constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court’s recent ruling backing Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity, according to the White House.
The Democrat is also calling for term limits for Supreme Court justices, who currently serve for life, following shock rulings such as the repeal of the nationwide right to abortion.
Biden, who will further unveil the plans in a speech in Austin, Texas later on Monday, will also seek an enforceable ethics code after a string of scandals.
He had confirmed he would seek the reforms during an Oval Office address last week outlining his priorities after deciding to drop out of the 2024 election, though the plans have almost no hope of getting through a deeply divided Congress.
“This nation was founded on a simple yet profound principle: No one is above the law. Not the President of the United States. Not a justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. No one,” Biden said in an opinion piece published on Monday.
