Biden unveils radical Supreme Court overhaul fearing Trump return

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Quick Hit:

On Monday, President Biden revealed a controversial and radical plan to overhaul the Supreme Court, aiming to limit former President Trump's powers should he return to office. The proposal includes term limits, a binding code of conduct for justices, and an amendment targeting presidential immunity from prosecution.

Key Details:

  • Biden's plan includes term limits for justices, a binding code of conduct, and an amendment to restrict presidential immunity.

  • The proposal targets the Supreme Court's decision granting broad immunity to presidents, highlighting concerns over Trump's potential return.

  • Biden demands justices disclose gifts, avoid political activities, and recuse themselves from cases with conflicts of interest.

Diving Deeper:

Biden's proposal, outlined in a Monday op-ed in the Washington Post, includes three main changes to the court, which he describes as "mired in a crisis of ethics." These changes include term limits for justices, a binding code of conduct, and a significant amendment aimed at ensuring that no president is above the law. The president's plan appears to be a direct response to the court's recent 6-3 decision granting broad immunity to presidents for crimes committed while in office.

"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 of the United States. No one," Biden wrote. He criticized the Supreme Court's decision, arguing it leaves virtually no limits on presidential actions except those self-imposed by the president.

Expressing clear concern over Trump potentially returning to office, Biden wrote, "If a future president incites a violent mob to storm the Capitol and stop the peaceful transfer of power—like we saw on Jan. 6th, 2021—there may be no legal consequences."

In addition to what he calls the "No One Is Above The Law Amendment," Biden proposed term limits for Supreme Court justices, suggesting that each president should appoint a new justice every two years, with justices serving 18 years in active service.

Biden also called for a binding code of conduct for the Supreme Court, criticizing the current voluntary ethics code as "weak and self-enforced." He stated that justices should be required to disclose gifts, refrain from political activities, and recuse themselves from cases where they or their spouses have financial or other conflicts of interest. He argued that every other federal judge is bound by an enforceable code of conduct, and the Supreme Court should not be exempt.

Biden claimed that a majority of Americans support these reforms, which he believes will help prevent the abuse of presidential powers. "We can and must prevent the abuse of presidential power. We can and must restore the public's faith in the Supreme Court. We can and must strengthen the guardrails of democracy," he wrote.

The proposal has sparked significant controversy and criticism from various quarters. Texas Rep. Lance Gooden reacted strongly, saying, "A career politician wants to set term limits on another branch of government because the Court hasn't ruled in his favor. The irony!"

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee also weighed in, mocking the plan: "So Biden (lame duck/dead duck) President wants to do term limits on SCOTUS. Here's an idea—do term limits on CONGRESS!"

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