US President Biden is expected to unveil a new proposal for "dramatically reforming" the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS)
President Biden is expected to announce support for establishing term limits for Supreme Court justices and implementing an enforceable code of ethics. This marks a significant shift for a president who has previously resisted calls for major changes to the high court.
Additionally, Biden is anticipated to advocate for a constitutional amendment that would limit immunity for presidents and certain other officials. This follows a Supreme Court ruling on July 1, which stated that presidents are protected from prosecution for "official acts" conducted during their tenure, in a case involving former President Donald Trump.
The details of the proposal are still being finalized and may change, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Biden is expected to present these ideas during an upcoming visit to Texas, where he will speak at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin.
The White House has not commented on the specifics, but Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden believes those in high office should be held to high standards of transparency, accountability, and ethics.
This proposal comes as Biden has become increasingly critical of the Supreme Court, particularly following decisions by its conservative majority that have overturned federal abortion rights, weakened affirmative action in higher education, and blocked stricter gun regulations, among other issues.
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have faced scrutiny over personal conduct, including Thomas's failure to disclose lavish gifts and travel from wealthy Republican donors, and Alito's wife displaying flags linked to the January 6 insurrection and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.