President Biden Calls for Supreme Court Reform During Austin Visit
AUSTIN, President Joe Biden was in Austin on Monday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. But in addition to honoring this pivotal moment in history, the President took the opportunity to call for a much-needed reform to the Supreme Court.
Biden was the keynote speaker at the commemorative event initially slated for July 15 at the LBJ Presidential Library. However, it had to be postponed following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s Keynote Address
Biden made his address to those gathered at the LBJ Presidential Library. In his speech, he expressed deep admiration for former President Lyndon Johnson stating, “I always admired President Johnson for his service. In a great society, no one should be left behind. He’d say it’s time for us to come to see that every American gets a decent break and a fair chance to make good”.
In addition to this, the President took the opportunity to call for term limits for Supreme Court justices. In his proposal, Biden suggested 18-year term limits for the nine justices, a move he believes would ensure regular changes in the court’s membership, predictability in timing for court nominations, and reduced chances of any Presidency imposing undue influence for generations.
Push for Ethics
Beyond term limits, Biden also addressed the need for a strict code of ethics for the Supreme Court. Labeling it as a “crisis of ethics,” he went on to say, “We need a mandatory code of ethics for the Supreme Court, and we need it now,”.
Further expanding on the constitutional reforms, Biden called for an amendment that sets constitutional limits on presidential immunity. He firmly stated, “The president must answer to the law,” and added, “We’re a nation of laws, not kings and dictators.”
Going Beyond Austin
Prior to his visit to Austin, Biden attended the 115th NAACP National Convention on July 16 and the UnidosUS annual conference on July 17 in Las Vegas, described as one of the largest gatherings of Latinos in the country.
As the nation enters another election cycle, Biden’s call for essential systematic reforms mark the urgency of addressing long-standing issues within the United States judiciary and executive. Whether these calls will result in significant changes remain to be seen.
With his visit to Austin concluded, the President departed for his next destination, the Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, where he plans to pay his respects to the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died earlier this month from cancer.
