In a recent development, Joan Biskupic, CNN's chief Supreme Court analyst, has expressed skepticism over President Joe Biden's proposed Supreme Court reform agenda.
Biskupic's comments came in response to Biden's ambitious plan to overhaul the Supreme Court, which includes introducing term limits for justices, implementing a "binding code of conduct" for ethical behavior, and overturning a recent ruling that grants presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for their "official acts" while in office.
According to the Daily Caller, Biskupic, during her appearance on "CNN Newsroom," dismissed Biden's proposal as a "wishlist" and a "political document," asserting that it is unlikely to be implemented. "They're very big proposals; they're also pretty much a wishlist. This is mostly a political document, because we're going to take it at face value, but it's not going to happen, just so you know," Biskupic stated. She further explained the challenges that Biden's proposal faces, particularly the requirement of a constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court's recent decision that extended broad immunity from criminal prosecution to former President Donald Trump.
Biskupic also highlighted the proposed term limits for justices, a significant departure from the current lifetime appointments enshrined in the Constitution. "He would like them appointed for 18-year terms by a president who would essentially get two justices each, of the presidential term. That's another one that potentially has to be enforced only through a constitutional amendment," she added.
Echoing Biskupic's skepticism, Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett also stated on Monday that there is "zero chance" Biden can impose term limits on Supreme Court justices, emphasizing that a constitutional amendment "is such a high bar."
Biskupic further noted that Biden's third proposal, an enforceable code of conduct for the justices, could potentially be implemented by Congress. This proposal comes in response to Biden's concerns about not only the justices' rulings but also their conduct, including instances of justices taking trips with wealthy interests without reporting them.
Despite the skepticism surrounding Biden's proposals, Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, expressed her support for the proposed Supreme Court reforms in a statement released on Monday. The support from Harris, however, does not negate the significant hurdles that these proposals face, particularly the requirement of a constitutional amendment, which requires the approval of 38 states. The last time a new constitutional amendment was enacted was in the 1990s, underscoring the magnitude of the challenge that Biden's reform agenda faces.
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