After withdrawing from the presidential election, Joe Biden unveiled a Supreme Court reform that overturns the July 2 immunity ruling.
On Monday, July 29, US President Joe Biden announced a detailed three-pronged proposal to change the Supreme Court.
This action establishes a significant policy focus for the remaining months of his presidency.
Moreover, the reform seeks to challenge former President Donald Trump’s immunity ruling.
Biden’s SC Proposal Pits Against Donald Trump Ruling
Biden’s proposal includes the establishment of a binding ethics code, the implementation of term limits for Supreme Court justices, and the introduction of a constitutional amendment that declares presidents are not immune from criminal prosecution for offenses committed while in office.
The “No One Is Above the Law Amendment” amendment is a direct response to a controversial Supreme Court ruling that occurred in July.
The ruling declared that former President Donald Trump was immune from criminal prosecution for the “official acts” he committed during his presidency.
“This decision today has continued the Court’s attack in recent years on a wide range of long-established legal principles in our nation,” Biden stated. Furthermore, he criticized the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling on presidential immunity that favored Donald Trump. Biden added, “From gutting voting rights and civil rights to taking away a woman’s right to choose, to today’s decision that undermines the rule of law of this nation.”
The proposed ethics code is also a response to the recent controversies involving Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
They were discovered to have accepted financial donations that were not disclosed and that posed significant conflicts of interest.
Biden underscored the need for an ethics code to reestablish public trust in the judiciary.
Reform Approval Odds & Texas Speech
Biden has been more vocal about his dissatisfaction with the conservative-majority Supreme Court throughout his administration.
The Court’s decisions to repeal federal abortion protections, restrict affirmative action in college admissions, and invalidate Biden’s student debt relief program have been the subject of controversy.
These rulings have inspired Biden to advocate for significant reforms.
“I’m going to call for Supreme Court reform because this is critical to our democracy,” Biden declared in a national address from the Oval Office on Wednesday.
His reform plan is part of his endeavor to solidify his legacy in the less than six months left on his term.
It is also crucial to mention that this announcement comes shortly after Biden withdrew from the presidential campaign, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
However, enacting these proposals into law presents a substantial obstacle.
Congressional approval is required, and given the current party split in Congress, this will be a difficult task.
A constitutional amendment, in particular, requires two-thirds majority support from both the House and the United States Senate, which is extremely difficult to obtain.
Biden is scheduled to provide additional details regarding his reform proposals during a speech at the LBJ Presidential Library in Texas later on Monday.
This speech is anticipated to detail the specifics of his strategy.
Furthermore, his speech will gather support for what he sees as essential changes to defend American democracy.