President Joe Biden reportedly plans to announce a sweeping overhaul of the Supreme Court next week in an effort to fundamentally reshape the court.
Two people familiar with the matter said Politics that the president is likely to support term limits for judges and implement a code of ethics.
The 81-year-old is expected to push for an amendment that would limit the immunity of presidents and other officials.
His amendment came immediately after the court ruled that presidents are protected from prosecution for official conduct, in a case brought by Donald Trump.
According to the source, the details are still unclear and may still change.
The 81-year-old is expected to push for an amendment that would limit the immunity of presidents and other officials
Two people familiar with the matter told Politico that the president is likely to support term limits for judges and implement a code of conduct
Biden is said to be calling for a review of the law during a trip to Texas, where he will give a speech. the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin.
The White House declined to comment, citing comments earlier this week from its spokesman that it believes the Supreme Court “must be held to a high ethical standard.”
After the court ruled in Trump’s immunity case, Biden called the decision “dangerous” and said it would embolden Trump if the Republican were re-elected.
He warned that the conservative court was “fundamentally changing” a foundational principle of the nation.
Biden said: “This nation was founded on the principle that in America there are no kings.
“Today’s decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits to what a president can do.
“This is a fundamentally new principle and it sets a dangerous precedent. The only limitations will be imposed by the president himself.”
The court’s 6-3 ruling virtually ensured that Trump would not receive a new trial before the November election.
Biden is said to be set to announce the reform during a trip to Texas, where he will deliver a speech at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin.
Biden called the decision a continuing “assault” on “a broad range of long-established legal principles,” pointing to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and controversial decisions on civil rights and voting rights.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday explaining his decision not to run for a second term, he added: “I’m going to call for Supreme Court reform because it’s critical to our democracy.”
Term limits and a code of conduct would likely require legislation, and the currently divided Congress is not expected to take up the issue before the end of the year.
This comes after Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito come under fire for their personal cases.
Thomas had neglected to mention the extravagant gifts and trips he had received from a billionaire property developer.
Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for tours to Indonesia and a quiet retreat in upstate New York for Thomas and his wife Virginia, better known as “Ginni.”
Meanwhile, Alito’s wife hung flags outside their homes that have been linked to the events of January 6.
Legal experts say the flag outside Alito’s house clearly violates ethics rules designed to avoid even the appearance of bias.
At the time the flag was raised, the court was still considering whether to hear cases related to the 2020 election.