Biden Unveils Supreme Court Reform Plan, Asserts ‘No One is Above the Law’

US President Joe Biden has unveiled a significant reform plan for the conservative-majority Supreme Court during the final months of his presidency, despite the slim likelihood of its passage. The 81-year-old Democrat is proposing a constitutional amendment to counter the court’s recent ruling supporting Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity, according to the White House.

Biden’s plan also includes advocating for term limits for Supreme Court justices, who currently serve for life, in light of recent contentious decisions such as the reversal of the nationwide abortion right. Additionally, he is pushing for an enforceable ethics code in response to a series of scandals involving the justices.

In an opinion piece published Monday, Biden emphasized, “This nation was founded on a simple yet profound principle: No one is above the law. Not the president of the United States. Not a justice on the Supreme Court. No one.” He expressed concern over what he views as a breach of normalcy and a growing erosion of public confidence in the court’s decisions, particularly those affecting personal freedoms.

Biden is expected to further elaborate on his proposed reforms in a speech in Austin, Texas. The reforms reflect his increasing frustration with a court heavily influenced by Trump-appointed judges and come amid declining public trust in the institution, as shown by recent opinion polls. However, experts, including legal scholar Steven Schwinn, suggest that the chances of these reforms passing through a deeply divided Congress are minimal. Schwinn indicated that Biden’s efforts might be aimed more at raising public awareness and making the Supreme Court a pivotal issue in the upcoming election.

Despite the obstacles, both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for November’s election, remain committed to working with Congress to advance these proposals.