Biden Considering Major Supreme Court Reforms: Report

President Joe Biden is reportedly considering a series of significant reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court, including ending lifetime appointments for justices, according to U.S. media. This potential shift comes after a series of controversial decisions by the high court, notably the removal of the federal right to abortion and a ruling granting former President Donald Trump immunity from prosecution for "official acts" as president.

CBS News, a partner of the BBC in the U.S., reported that President Biden is exploring the implementation of term limits for Supreme Court justices, who currently hold lifetime appointments. Additionally, he is looking into strengthening the court's ethics code.

Such reforms would represent a major reversal for Biden, who has previously resisted calls from his party to alter the structure of the Supreme Court. The push for change has gained momentum following Trump's appointment of three conservative justices, which established a 6-3 conservative majority on the court. The court's recent decisions have highlighted this shift, impacting areas such as abortion rights, gun laws, environmental regulations, and the prosecution of Trump.

Ethics concerns have also fueled the reform debate. Justice Clarence Thomas faced scrutiny for accepting luxury trips from a Republican donor, and questions have arisen about his wife's involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

In response to these issues, Biden formed a commission early in his presidency to issue recommendations on Supreme Court reforms. However, these recommendations have yet to be acted upon. Despite the reported plans, passing such reforms would be challenging in a divided Congress, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans holding a majority in the House of Representatives.

Over the weekend, Biden informed Democrats on a call that he was collaborating with experts on Supreme Court reforms, which would be announced soon, according to a source familiar with the call. However, the president did not provide further details during the call with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to elaborate on the proposed changes or the timeline for an announcement.

In addition to term limits and ethics code enhancements, Biden is reportedly considering supporting a constitutional amendment to eliminate the broad immunity for presidents cited by the court. This potential amendment comes in the wake of the court's ruling that Trump and other presidents have significant immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office.

Biden's reported plan, if announced, could serve as a key issue in his campaign leading up to the November election. The president has frequently referenced the Supreme Court and its rulings on the campaign trail, most recently during an interview with BET, where he discussed the court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Biden warned that if Trump were to win another term, he could have the opportunity to appoint additional justices, further solidifying the conservative majority on the court. "Just imagine if he has two more appointments," Biden said.

The potential reforms signal a significant moment in the ongoing debate over the Supreme Court's role and the extent of its influence on American society and governance.