Joe Biden is considering supporting a series of reforms to the US Supreme Court, including ending lifetime appointments, according to US media.
Supporting such changes would mark a major reversal for the Democratic president. This consideration follows a series of Supreme Court decisions, including the removal of the federal right to abortion and a ruling that granted Donald Trump immunity from prosecution for “official acts” as president.
CBS News, a media partner in the US, reported that Mr. Biden is examining establishing term limits for justices, who currently hold lifetime appointments, and strengthening the court’s ethics code.
However, passing these changes would be difficult in a divided Congress.
During a weekend call, Mr. Biden told Democrats in the Congressional Progressive Caucus that he was working with experts on these reforms and that announcements would be made soon, a source familiar with the call told CBS News.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to elaborate when asked about the proposed changes or when an announcement might be made.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized what he called an “illegal and unconstitutional attack on our SACRED… Supreme Court.”
Mr. Biden has long resisted calls from his party to reform the court. Some Democrats have argued that change was needed after his predecessor Trump appointed three right-wing justices, creating a 6-3 conservative majority.
There have also been questions about ethics on the high court, with Justice Clarence Thomas accepting luxury trips from a billionaire Republican donor and questions about his wife’s support for overturning the 2020 presidential election when Trump lost.
Mr. Biden created a commission to issue recommendations early in his presidency, but the advice was never acted upon.
Democrats would face a significant challenge in getting any reform through a divided Senate and a Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
The high court’s opinions this term have shown a sharp political shift, with the conservative majority issuing a series of high-profile rulings affecting abortion rights, gun laws, the environment, and Trump’s criminal trials.
The high court also rejected Mr. Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, which would have eliminated billions in debt for Americans.
On its last day of opinions, the court ruled that Trump and other presidents have broad (but not absolute) immunity from criminal prosecution for their actions in office.
One of the four criminal cases against Trump has since been dismissed, and sentencing has been delayed in another.
Along with the reforms, Mr. Biden is also considering supporting a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the broad immunity cited by the court.
The president frequently cites the Supreme Court and its rulings on the campaign trail. He mentioned the high court Tuesday during an interview with BET, referring to the court’s 2022 ruling that eliminated the right to an abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade.
Mr. Biden noted that Trump could have the opportunity to appoint another justice or two if he wins. “Just imagine if he has two more appointments,” Biden said.
