Staff Reports
President Biden’s latest ploy to meddle with the Supreme Court has all the finesse of a bull in a china shop. This week, he suggested reforms to the nation’s highest court, alongside a radical constitutional amendment to strip former presidents of any immunity for crimes committed while in office. While Biden claims these moves are aimed at “strengthening democracy,” it seems more like he’s dressing up a partisan power grab in a fancy suit.
In a lengthy op-ed published by the Washington Post, Biden proposed term limits and a so-called binding code of conduct for the justices. The so-called reforms aim to alter the court’s composition and capabilities, but they already reek of opportunism. He audaciously asserts that a majority of Americans back his proposals, perhaps convinced that claiming popular support will cover the holes in his argument. Ironically, the very idea of a “No One Is Above the Law” Amendment suggests a desperate attempt to prove that he’s above the political fray when in fact it rings hollow given current partisan realities.
VP Harris endorsed Joe Biden's Supreme Court reform proposal today.
The reforms include 18-year term limits, a binding code of conduct and a constitutional amendment saying presidents don’t have criminal immunity.
I agree with our current President and the next President of the… pic.twitter.com/feWravd6KD
— Feisty is proud to be a Democrat! (@FeistyLibLady) July 29, 2024
Unsurprisingly, Biden’s proposals drew sharp rebuke from legal experts sharper than a Supreme Court gavel. First Liberty Institute chief counsel Kelly Shackelford and former Attorney General Bill Barr sprang into action with a counter-op-ed, shedding light on the dangers of what they describe as court packing. They warned that while term limits and ethical codes sound harmless, they are gateway drugs leading straight to more liberal justices being shoved onto the court—an outcome that would make even the most seasoned constitutionalists squirm.
Vice President Kamala Harris has been proactive on this front too, hinting at her willingness to add new justices to the Supreme Court. She seems to believe that increasing the number of justices is a great way to enhance the integrity of the judicial process—after all, who needs balance when you can just stack the odds in your favor? Shackelford and Barr made it clear that if Democrats pull off a victory in the upcoming elections, this ominous shift could become reality with little more than a simple majority and a presidential stamp of approval.
Senator Lindsey Graham also weighed in, delivering a strong critique of Biden’s scheme. He sprinkled his commentary with colorful language, calling the proposals “dead on arrival” in the Senate and accusing Biden and his crew of attempting to destroy the integrity of the court. Graham, like many conservatives, articulated a clear concern that today’s moves are merely stepping stones toward a future where the court exists as a liberal puppet. This blatant disregard for the separation of powers poses a significant risk to the constitutional balance that has governed the United States for centuries. It’s a curious notion: in a land where the rule of law is supposed to reign supreme, the president appears ready to toss it out the window in favor of political expediency.
