thenews2.com / Depositphotos.com
President Biden revealed sweeping changes he’d like to enact for the US Supreme Court that include term limits and an ethics code. LSU political science professor Dr. Robert Hogan said because justices receive lifetime appointments it can cause a problem when they stay on too long.
“And I think the fact that age is something that people are talking about these days, this may be a time that this is most appropriate to talk about it,” said Hogan.
Biden wants to set 18-year-term limits for justices. The president would appoint new justices every two years and they’d serve a maximum of 18 years.
Ethics reforms to SCOTUS would require justices to disclose gifts, refrain from political activity, and recuse themselves from cases in which they or their spouse have a financial or conflict of interest. Hogan referred to Justice Clarence Thomas.
“He has taken trips and things such as that from wealthy Republican donors that has resulted in a lot of people questioning some of the decisions that the court has made,” said Hogan.
Hogan said because the proposed changes appeal to Democrats’ criticisms of the courts along with a constitutional amendment to eliminate presidential immunity, it’s very unlikely any of these changes will make it to the floor in either chamber.
“Since the Republicans have already pointed out that these things are dead on arrival in the Senate, for example, Senator Lindsey Graham over the weekend pointed out that there was no way they were going to move on this,” said Hogan.
And with a Republican-controlled House, Hogan said it’s very doubtful the lower chamber will vote on the measures either.
Comments