On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a proposal, in conjunction with President Joe Biden, to undertake significant changes to the Supreme Court, which has been met with sharp criticism from Republicans who argue that this move threatens to politicize the judiciary.
In her statement, Harris highlighted the administration’s call for Congress to enact several major reforms. These include instituting term limits for Supreme Court justices, mandating that they adhere to strict ethics rules akin to those for other federal judges, and ensuring that no former President is above the law, even in cases of criminal conduct while in office. Harris argued that these reforms are crucial for restoring public confidence in the Court and fortifying democratic principles.
The proposed reforms from the Biden-Harris administration include setting an 18-year term limit for Supreme Court justices. Additionally, the plan calls for justices to be transparent about gifts, refrain from engaging in political activities, and recuse themselves from cases where there are personal conflicts of interest.
Harris, who is positioning herself as the leading Democratic candidate for the presidency following President Biden’s decision not to seek a second term, has been actively promoting this reform agenda. The timing of this proposal has reignited debates over conservative Justices such as Clarence Thomas, who has been on the Court for over three decades and has faced scrutiny for accepting undisclosed vacations from billionaire Harlan Crow. Similarly, Justice Samuel Alito, who has served for more than 18 years, is under renewed scrutiny due to controversies involving his wife.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has dismissed the Biden-Harris reform proposal, predicting that it will not advance through Congress. He argued that these proposed changes would undermine the balance of power within the judiciary and diminish the public’s trust in the justice system. Johnson criticized the proposal as part of a broader pattern by Democrats to challenge and delegitimize the Supreme Court due to disagreements with its recent rulings.
Harris’s reform plan comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has led to significant restrictions on abortion in various states. The Vice President has been a vocal advocate for reinstating federal abortion protections, further fueling the ongoing debate over judicial reform and the role of the Supreme Court in shaping national policies.