Biden Proposes Supreme Court Reforms
Summary from the AllSides News Team
President Joe Biden is calling for Supreme Court reforms that he says will ensure accountability and restore the public trust in the court.
Key Details: In a letter, Biden called for a plan that would ensure former presidents have no immunity for crimes committed while in office, establish Supreme Court 18-year term limits, and set a code of conduct for the court. He plans to highlight the presidential immunity question when he visits the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas, Monday for an event to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.
Key Quote: "What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms. We now stand in a breach. That’s why — in the face of increasing threats to America’s democratic institutions — I am calling for three bold reforms to restore trust and accountability to the court and our democracy," Biden wrote.
For Context: Biden is joining progressives who believe the Supreme Court has grown too conservative and too powerful, especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Six of the nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents.
How the Media Covered it: Axios (Lean Left bias) noted that Biden's call for no presidential immunity goes against the 6-3 ruling this year by the Supreme Court that presidents have immunity for "official acts" they made when president. National Review News (Lean Right) agrees with the proposal to limit Supreme Court terms, noting that it could depoliticize the court and blunt efforts to pack the court. The idea of term limits for the Supreme Court has drawn support from across the political spectrum.
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The president said that the proposed changes aim to restore public trust in the court and ensure accountability.
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