President Biden's proposal to impose sweeping changes to the Supreme Court is seen by critics as a desperate attempt to appease progressive Democrats and cater to dark money groups. The plan calls for term limits, ethics rules, and even a constitutional amendment limiting presidential immunity.
President Joe Biden's sudden embrace of radical changes to the Supreme Court has drawn criticism from conservatives, who accuse him of abandoning moderation and pandering to the left-wing base of the Democratic party.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, now leading the Democratic presidential ticket, unveiled drastic measures on Monday for Congress to adopt, including term limits for justices, ethics rules, and a constitutional amendment to restrict presidential immunity.
Biden's Radical Court Reforms Pander to the Left, Critics Charge
Biden claimed in a Washington Post op-ed that, while he respects the separation of powers, "what is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public's confidence in the court's decisions."
This marks a significant shift for Biden, who previously opposed plans to alter the high court. During his Senate tenure, he dismissed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposals to impose term limits and expand the court as "a bonehead idea."
Biden's Radical Court Reforms Pander to the Left, Critics Charge
On the 2020 campaign trail, Biden resisted calls to increase the Supreme Court's size, arguing that it would erode its credibility. However, his recent announcement suggests he is now aligned with the most radical wing of his party on this issue.
Critics, such as Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Network, believe that Biden's proposals are intended to energize his flailing base and cater to dark money groups like Arabella Advisors and Demand Justice, which advocate for court packing.
Biden's Radical Court Reforms Pander to the Left, Critics Charge
GOP strategist Matt Gorman dismissed Biden's advocacy for term limits as "laughable," accusing Democrats of being unable to accept the reality of a conservative-leaning Supreme Court majority appointed by former President Donald Trump.
The court's ideological balance shifted dramatically during Trump's presidency with the appointment of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Biden's Radical Court Reforms Pander to the Left, Critics Charge
Severino charged that Biden and Harris are "declaring war on the separation of powers" by attacking the Supreme Court.
The Harris campaign declined to comment, while White House spokesperson Andrew Bates expressed gratitude for the support their proposals have received from bipartisan legal experts, members of Congress, and the American public.
Notably, the Supreme Court adopted a new code of conduct last year in response to scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers. However, critics argue that the absence of a formal code has created the misconception that justices are exempt from ethical rules.
The Supreme Court has long adhered to common law ethics principles and guidelines issued by the Judicial Conference Committee on Codes of Conduct, as well as established practices.
The Biden administration's push for radical court reforms has reignited the debate over the role of the judiciary and the balance between the three branches of government. Conservatives maintain that these changes would undermine the independence and integrity of the Supreme Court, while Democrats contend that they are necessary to restore confidence in the judicial system.
