Biden proposes Supreme Court reforms amid conservative dominance

US President Joe Biden unveiled a set of ambitious proposals Monday aimed at reforming the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. The proposals, backed by Vice President Kamala Harris, include introducing 18-year term limits for justices and implementing an enforceable ethics code.

The 81-year-old president also advocates for a constitutional amendment to overturn a recent Supreme Court ruling that supports former President Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity. Speaking to reporters before departing for Austin, Texas, where he will outline his plans further, Biden emphasized the need for reform in the high court, citing a series of controversial decisions and ethical scandals involving its justices.

“The Supreme Court needs reform,” Biden said. “What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms.”

Biden’s proposals come on the heels of significant Supreme Court decisions, including the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade and other rulings perceived as setbacks to his administration’s policies. The President had previously been reluctant to overhaul the court but has shifted his stance in response to these developments and ongoing ethics concerns.

Vice President Harris echoed Biden’s call for reform, urging Congress to adopt the proposed changes. “These popular reforms will help to restore confidence in the Court, strengthen our democracy, and ensure no one is above the law,” Harris said in a statement.

Despite the bold proposal, experts and Republican leaders are skeptical about its prospects. House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the plans as “dead on arrival,” arguing that they would undermine the rule of law and erode public trust in the justice system.

Legal scholar Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, noted that Biden’s proposal faces “close to zero” chance of passing through Congress. Schwinn suggested that the President’s move might be aimed at elevating the Supreme Court as a key issue in the upcoming November 2024 election.

The current Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has significantly influenced key issues such as reproductive health, federal agency powers, and student debt relief. The court’s decisions have had broad implications, including the recent ruling in favor of Trump’s immunity claims, which he is using to challenge his criminal convictions.

The court has also been marred by ethics controversies, particularly involving Justice Clarence Thomas, who faced scrutiny for accepting luxury vacations paid for by a Republican donor, and Justice Samuel Alito, who has been criticized for not recusing himself from Trump-related cases despite associated controversies.