Staff Reports
The plan by President Joe Biden to overhaul the Supreme Court seems to be fizzling out faster than soggy fireworks on the Fourth of July. At a recent White House press briefing, the topic of Biden’s ambitions for reforming the highest court in the land was addressed, but the air was thick with uncertainty. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s response was about as clear as a mud puddle after a rainstorm.
Biden’s vision includes imposing term limits, crafting a new ethics code that judges might find more stifling than a tight pair of Spanx, and even taking on presidential immunity through a constitutional amendment. Jean-Pierre dutifully spun the narrative, emphasizing Biden’s belief in transparency for public officials—something that feels about as genuine as a two-dollar bill given the current state of affairs. However, when pressed for specific policy announcements, she came up empty, leaving many to wonder if this dream of reform was little more than a whimsical thought bubble.
Biden’s Supreme Court reform plan appears to be at a standstill https://t.co/7AJzWpt1qS
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 25, 2024
There’s been a cacophony of calls from Democrats ramping up the volume on ethics reform following alleged improprieties involving Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Thomas has taken heat for accepting “gifts” from upscale benefactors, drawing a line in the sand that he didn’t have to disclose them. Meanwhile, Alito is under scrutiny for a January 6-related case, with accusations swirling around him like leaves in a whirlwind after witnesses spotted a flag linked to Capitol rioters outside his home—complete with the classic “it was all my wife’s idea” defense. Despite the pressure, neither justice appears to be in any rush to resign, which must be a disappointment for those eager to see a shake-up.
The buzz about term limits is like an endless loop of a broken record in Democrat circles. Senator Alex Padilla from California tossed in the idea of 18-year limits for justices last year, but it seems the Senate Democrats are stuck in traffic with an empty gas tank. With Republicans holding the majority in the House, the probability of any sweeping changes coming to fruition seems about as likely as finding a unicorn at a carnival.
In a valiant attempt to protect the administration’s reputation, Jean-Pierre cited the “historic” legislative achievements attributed to Biden. Still, anyone with a pulse knows these “achievements” came under far from ideal circumstances—a political climate that’s rougher than a porcupine in a balloon factory. With little hope for significant changes on the horizon, it seems Biden’s lofty ambitions for judicial reform might just turn into tales told around the campfire—hopefully, with a little more humor and a lot less reality.
