Quote:WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday proposed major changes for the U.S. Supreme Court: an enforceable code of ethics, term limits for justices and a constitutional amendment that would limit the justices’ recent decision on presidential immunity.
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Here’s a look at how the ideas, how they might work, and the possible stumbling blocks:
How would justices’ terms be limited?
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Biden’s proposal would limit justices to 18-year terms, a system that he says would make nominations more predictable, less arbitrary, and reduce the chances that a single president could shape the court for generations to come.
There’s a big problem: The Constitution gives all federal judges lifetime tenure, unless they resign, retire or are removed.
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How would a code of ethics be enforced?
The Supreme Court didn’t have a formal code of ethics until last year, when the justices adopted one in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices, like Clarence Thomas.
It still lacks a means of enforcement — something Biden says is “common sense.” Members of Congress, for example, generally can’t accept gifts worth more than $50.
Anyone can file complaints against other federal judges, who are subject to censure and reprimand. Justice Elena Kagan voiced support for adding an enforcement mechanism to the Supreme Court ethical code in a public appearance last week.
Still, making the high court’s ethical code enforceable raises thorny questions about how it might be enforced, and by whom.
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What about presidential immunity?
Biden is also calling for a constitutional amendment limiting the Supreme Court’s recent decision giving former president Donald Trump — and all other presidents — broad immunity from criminal prosecution.
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It wouldn’t be the first time - the Constitution has been amended about five times to in US history to overturn a Supreme Court decision, Geyh said.
But constitutional amendments have even higher hurdles than new laws. The proposal must get support from two-thirds of both the House and Senate and then be ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures.
https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court...722619cc4d
And Mitch McConnell has the gall to say that the SCOTUS is under attack:
Quote:Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said “the Supreme Court is under attack” in a speech on the Senate floor Monday, calling for Biden and Harris to accept rulings from the court instead of responding “with a full schedule attack on the justices who ruled against them.”
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/29/politics/....%E2%80%9D
Biden's not attacking the court; he's defending what's left of our democracy. Understanding that no amendments will pass, it's good to open this discussion. You can tell who is against democratic values like equal treatment under the law or attacking graft by seeing who's wringing their hands.
