Staff Reports
President Biden recently decided to take a grandstand on the Supreme Court, unveiling a so-called “bold” plan for reform on behalf of what he claims is the eroding trust in our hallowed judicial system. According to Biden, the high court’s reputation is in tatters, and he’s here to save the day—at least, that seems to be the narrative he’s pushing in a Washington Post opinion piece.
Biden’s reform agenda consists of three main proposals: term limits for Supreme Court justices, an overhaul of the court’s ethics code, and a new constitutional amendment designed to ensure no former presidents can dodge accountability for their actions while in office. The audacity of proposing a constitutional amendment to address presidential immunity is a bold move, especially since it would require a Herculean effort to gather the approval of two-thirds of both chambers of Congress and three-fourths of the states. Given the current state of politics, one could argue this is about as likely as finding Bigfoot in a congressional office.
Where does that leave JB and Hunter Money Laundering/Child Trafficking? Biden lays out plan to ‘reform’ Supreme Court in waning days of his presidency Biden’s first proposal calls for a constitutional amendment, titled the “No One Is Above the Law Amendment,” which
1— Goldie Elaine (@TeresaB16548284) July 29, 2024
As if reining in the Supreme Court wasn’t enough, Biden also floated the idea of introducing term limits for justices—specifically, 18-year terms. The logic here seems straightforward; Biden believes that if justices are rotated out regularly, it will prevent a single presidency from having too much sway over the courts. However, the irony is thick; under Biden, only one justice has been nominated. His predecessor, Donald Trump, had the opportunity to appoint three justices during his term. So, perhaps it’s a case of “do as I say, not as I do.”
Additionally, Biden is demanding a much stronger ethics code for the justices, calling the current guidelines “weak and self-enforced.” He claims that justices should be compelled to disclose gifts and keep their political activities to a minimum, which certainly raises the question of how often he follows his own advice when it comes to maintaining ethical standards. Apparently, Biden thinks making justices accountable is key to restoring faith in the court, as if selective accountability has never been a concern before.
While Biden drags his feet on his reformist crusade, the Conservative majority in the Supreme Court keeps delivering blows to his administration’s overreach. His student loan forgiveness scheme was shot down, along with his ill-fated COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Other Supreme Court rulings, such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade, have only added fuel to Biden’s fire, leading him to lash out at the very institution meant to uphold the rule of law. Critics are quick to cite the separation of powers as a stumbling block for Biden’s plans. Still, with mere months left in his presidency and a divided Congress that seems less than eager to jump on the Biden bandwagon, these proposals are likely doomed to gather dust. In the end, it’s hard to see how any of these high-flying ideas will put a dent in a Supreme Court that continues to stand in defiance of Biden’s whims.
