Biden setseth Ethics-Code for Supreme Court
The highest US court could see extensive changes - at least if it's under President Biden. The Democrat is reportedly planning extensive reforms. Plans include abolishing immunity for public officials. Trump reacts angrily - and speaks of a personal attack.
According to reports from media outlets including the "Washington Post" and CNN, US-President Joe Biden is considering proposing reforms to the Supreme Court of the United States. The administration is reportedly considering proposals to limit the tenure of judges and to introduce an enforceable ethics code.
Concrete initiatives could be finalized in the coming weeks, it was reported. The administration is also reportedly considering proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish the far-reaching immunity for presidents and other public officials. All proposals would need approval from Congress. This is considered unlikely due to the Republican control of the House of Representatives and the narrow Democratic majority in the Senate.
Judges on the Supreme Court are appointed for life. The Supreme Court shifted to the right under former President Donald Trump due to several appointments. It has since made several decisions in favor of the Republicans. A few weeks ago, Trump scored a major victory: The Supreme Court ruled that Trump enjoys broad protection from prosecution for actions taken in the presidency. The decision had immediate implications for various cases.
Last year, reports of expensive gifts to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sparked an ethics debate. The justices subsequently agreed to a code of conduct, but the enforceability of the code was questioned.
Trump, who is currently attending the party convention in Milwaukee, reacted sharply to the reports. "The Democrats are trying to interfere in the presidential elections and destroy our judicial system by attacking their political opponent, me, and our honorable Supreme Court," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The proposed reforms by President Joe Biden include limiting the tenure of Supreme Court judges and introducing an enforceable ethics code, which would require approval from Congress. The Supreme Court's shift to the right under President Trump, resulting from several appointments, has led to decisions favoring the Republicans. Trump, expressing his disapproval, claimed that the Democrats are attempting to interfere in the elections and destroy the judicial system by attacking him and the Supreme Court.
