According to US media reports, Joe Biden is considering supporting a series of reforms to the US Supreme Court, including ending lifetime appointments.
Supporting such changes would mark a significant shift for a Democratic president. It follows a series of high court decisions, including striking down federal abortion rights and a ruling granting Donald Trump immunity from prosecution for his “official acts” as president.
CBS News, the BBC’s partner in the US, reported that Biden is looking into enacting term limits for judges (currently lifetime appointments) and strengthening the courts’ ethics rules.
However, in a divided Congress, reforms will be difficult to pass.
Biden told Democrats on a weekend call that he was working with experts on soon-to-be-announced Supreme Court reforms, a source familiar with the call told CBS News.
Biden did not elaborate on a call with the Congressional Progressive Caucus about the proposal.
Asked about the proposed changes or when an announcement would be made, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to elaborate.
Biden has long resisted calls from his party to reform the courts. Some Democrats believe changes are needed after his predecessor, Trump, appointed three right-wing justices to form a 6-3 conservative majority.
There are also ethics issues on the high court, with Justice Clarence Thomas accepting luxury trips from Republican billionaire donors and his wife’s support for overturning the 2020 presidential election after Trump lost.
Mr. Biden established a commission early in his presidency to issue recommendations. The suggestion was never adopted.
Democrats will face huge challenges in getting any reform through a divided Senate and Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
High Court Opinions This Term Show drastic political shiftthe conservative majority issued a series of high-profile rulings that affected abortion right, gun Law, environment and Trump’s criminal trial.
The high court also rejected Mr Biden’s student loan forgiveness program – It would wipe out billions of dollars in debt from Americans.
In a final-day opinion, the court ruled Trump and other presidents have broad, but not absolute, immunity Immunity from criminal prosecution for actions committed while in office.
One of the four criminal cases against Trump has been dismissed, and sentencing in another has been delayed.
In addition to reforms, Biden is considering supporting a constitutional amendment that would eliminate broad immunities cited by courts.
Biden’s reported plan, if announced, would give him at least a new campaign issue ahead of the November election.
The president cited the Supreme Court and its rulings numerous times on the campaign trail. He referred to the high court in an interview with BET on Tuesday, referring to the court’s 2022 ruling that eliminated abortion rights by overturning Roe v Wade.
Biden noted that if Trump wins, he could choose to appoint another judge or two. “Imagine if he had two more appointments,” Biden said.
