President Joe Biden recently penned an op-ed for the Washington Post, advocating for term limits and a binding ethics code for U.S. Supreme Court justices. He also called for a constitutional amendment to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity.
Biden’s proposal includes term limits that would require a justice to serve for 18 years before transitioning to a senior justice role. This system aims to make court nominations more predictable and less arbitrary. The idea of 18-year term limits was previously outlined by a presidential commission, although the commission did not take a definitive stance on the matter.
The proposal also includes the appointment of lower court judges to fill Supreme Court vacancies after an 18-year term limit is reached. This process would potentially prevent a single presidency from significantly altering the court’s composition for generations.
In addition to term limits, Biden highlighted the need for a stronger ethics code for Supreme Court justices. He mentioned concerns about undisclosed gifts, conflicts of interest, and ethical issues related to the January 6 insurrection. Biden emphasized the importance of holding justices accountable through a binding code of conduct.
Despite Biden’s proposals, the likelihood of their implementation remains uncertain. Republicans, who hold sway in the House of Representatives and can obstruct Senate legislation through filibusters, have shown resistance to Supreme Court reforms. Moreover, amending the Constitution is a challenging and complex process.
While Biden’s call for term limits and an ethics code for Supreme Court justices addresses crucial issues of accountability and trust, the road to implementing these reforms may face significant obstacles in the current political landscape. As the debate over the future of the Supreme Court continues, the need for transparency and integrity within the judiciary remains a pressing concern for the American public.
