President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to announce changes to the Supreme Court, including term limits and an ethics code.
Two sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post that Biden is also weighing a possible constitutional amendment to eliminate broad immunity for presidents and other officials.
Biden spoke about the efforts in a Zoom call with the Congressional Progressive Caucus last weekend. “I’m going to need your help on the Supreme Court, because I’m about to come out — I don’t want to prematurely announce it — but I’m about to come out with a major initiative on limiting the court … I’ve been working with constitutional scholars for the last three months, and I need some help,” he said, according to a transcript obtained by the outlet.
Both the term limits and an ethics code would need to be met with congressional approval.
The creation of a constitutional amendment is also unlikely, as it would need to be supported by two-thirds of both the House and Senate, or by two-thirds of the states through a convention, and then approved by three-fourths of state legislatures, as described in Article V of the U.S. Constitution.
Donald Trump responded to Biden’s reported plans, writing on Truth Social, “The Radical Left Democrats are desperately trying to ‘Play the Ref’ by calling for an illegal and unConstitutional attack on our SACRED United States Supreme Court. The reason that these Communists are so despondent is that their unLawful Witch Hunts are failing everywhere. The Democrats are attempting to interfere in the Presidential Election, and destroy our Justice System, by attacking their Political Opponent, ME, and our Honorable Supreme Court. We have to fight for our Fair and Independent Courts, and protect our Country. MAGA2024!”
Biden’s plans to implement changes to the Supreme Court follow the Court’s ruling that Trump was immune from prosecution for official acts made during his first term.
Following the ruling, Biden said, “No one is above the law, not even the President of the United States. With today’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed.”
