Official announcement from the U.S. Supreme Court

Biden Proposes 18-Year Supreme Court Term Limits, Ethics Code, and Constitutional Amendment

Jul 29, 2024, 02:10 PM

President Joe Biden has proposed significant reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court, including 18-year term limits for justices and a binding code of conduct. Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed these proposals, emphasizing the need for Congress to pass the reforms to restore public confidence in the judiciary. Biden highlighted that the United States is the only major constitutional democracy with lifetime appointments for its high court justices. The proposed reforms aim to ensure that no one, including Supreme Court justices, is above the law. Biden's plan also includes a constitutional amendment to address judicial immunity. The proposals have sparked a range of reactions, with some supporting the move as necessary for accountability and others criticizing it as an attempt to undermine the judiciary. Biden announced these reforms during a visit to the LBJ Library in Austin, noting that 49 states have term limits, elections, or age limits for their top judges. The plan includes replacing justices every two years.