- Biden has proposed a radical reform of the US Supreme Court.
- The plan includes term limits and a binding code of conduct.
Citing "recent ethics scandals" involving Supreme Court justices, President Joe Biden has announced a proposal to drastically reform the workings of the court, including by establishing term limits for sitting Justices.
The White House shared the proposal early Monday, which consists of two main points:
- Eighteen-year term limits, as opposed to the current lifetime appointments, with a new justice appointed every two years; and
- A binding code of conduct for Justices.
The proposal also called for the removal of immunity for crimes committed by a president while in office.
In an accompanying op-ed in the Washington Post, Biden wrote that the country is "in a breach" of the normal and balanced workings of the court.
Citing his experience as a senator and as a past ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Biden wrote:
"I served as a US senator for 36 years, including as chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. I have overseen more Supreme Court nominations as senator, vice president and president than anyone living today. I have great respect for our institutions and the separation of powers."
But, he 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 did not name any president or justice in his reasoning, but the proposal was a clear reaction to ethics scandals and shock rulings from the Court over the last few years.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade was a "dangerous and extreme" decision that undid long-settled rights, Biden wrote.
Meanwhile, in June, the Supreme Court ruled that a sitting president has some immunity from criminal charges relating to acts made as part of their official duties — a move beneficial to former President Donald Trump, who has been dogged by multiple criminal and civil court cases.
This "means there are virtually no limits on what a president can do," Biden wrote.
The current composition of the Supreme Court leans heavily conservative, in part because former President Barack Obama's nomination was barred in his last year in office; while Trump appointed three justices, including one in his lame-duck period.
This is a developing story. Please check back later for updates.