White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefed reporters Tuesday afternoon, as President Biden’s call for Supreme Court reform garnered headlines but faces long odds of approval in the present Congress.
Biden’s move to increase accountability for the high court’s official actions and the ethical standards of its members represents a change in course for the president.
Although he stressed in his statement Monday that he remains committed to “the separation of powers laid out in our Constitution,” the president characterized recent Supreme Court rulings, including one giving former presidents immunity for “officials acts” performed while serving in office, as inconsistent with that very principle.
Biden noted cases that have weakened the Voting Rights Act, limited access to abortion and shielded presidents from prosecution. He also said he believes the Supreme Court has demonstrated inadequate internal checks against unethical behavior by its own justices.
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