Former attorneys general urge ABC News to confront 2024 presidential candidates on their positions regarding the nation's highest court, amid ongoing national debate and political proposals to transform it.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, four former attorneys general of the United States, along with a leading conservative legal advocate, have urged ABC News to pose specific questions about the Supreme Court during its upcoming presidential debate. The signatories include William Barr, Edwin Meese, Michael Mukasey, Jeff Sessions, and Kelly Shackelford, president of the First Liberty Institute.
The letter cites the recent national debate surrounding the Supreme Court, sparked by its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and other controversial rulings. The signatories argue that presidential candidates have not had sufficient opportunities to articulate their stances on this crucial issue.
Conservative Activists Demand Questions on Supreme Court in Presidential Debate
They propose two inquiry lines for the moderators to pursue with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump during the debate: one concerning potential transformations of the Court, such as term limits and expansion of the bench, and another on the criteria they would consider when appointing justices to lifetime terms.
The letter acknowledges the high stakes involved in presidential nominations to the Supreme Court, whose rulings impact the lives of all Americans for generations. It emphasizes the importance of presidential accountability on this matter.
Conservative Activists Demand Questions on Supreme Court in Presidential Debate
The signatories urge the moderators to ask the candidates their positions on proposals to impose term limits, an "ethics" code of conduct, and stripping the Court of jurisdiction over certain cases. They also highlight the possibility of expanding the size of the Court through legislation requiring only a majority vote in Congress.
The former attorneys general argue that presidential nominees to the Court have had a profound impact on its ideological balance and the outcomes of cases that bear upon fundamental American rights and liberties.
Conservative Activists Demand Questions on Supreme Court in Presidential Debate
President Biden has proposed amending the Constitution to impose term limits and an ethical code on Supreme Court justices, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced a bill to strip the Court of jurisdiction in some instances.
The letter emphasizes the significance of understanding how the candidates intend to approach the nominating process, given the potential for Supreme Court vacancies during their presidencies.
The signatories stress that their suggested questions and the candidates' responses will illuminate a topic of immense importance to millions of Americans. They conclude by expressing hope that the debate will provide clarity on this crucial matter.
ABC News has not yet responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
