House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed President Joe Biden’s proposal for limiting Supreme Court terms as “absurd.” The Louisiana challenged the notion of altering the Supreme Court following reports indicating that Biden is advocating for term limits for justices and the introduction of an ethics code for the nation’s highest court.
“It’s absurd. First, they propose they wanted to expand the number of justices when things don’t go their way. Then they wanted to impeach a couple of them. Now he wants term limits. It’s absurd,” Johnson told Fox Business. “That would never be passed through Congress. And by the way, it’s in the Constitution that they serve for life based on their good behavior. So we would have to change everything about the tradition and the way that the court is organized.”
This week, the Washington Post reported that the president intends to support the introduction of legislation on term limits and an ethics code for the court. Additionally, the outlet suggests he might advocate for a constitutional amendment aimed at removing broad immunity from the office of the President. The proposals come after the end of the justices’ 2023-24 term this month, during which former President Donald Trump achieved major victories, including fending off state challenges to remove his name from the 2024 ballot and receiving some protection from criminal prosecution.
The rulings angered liberals, who viewed the decisions made by a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court solidified by Trump’s appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Democrats have also criticized Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., suggesting they should recuse themselves from cases related to the 2020 election.
Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) filed a motion to begin impeachment proceedings against Alito and Thomas. Both justices are known for their strict constitutionalist stances and have frequently been criticized by the far left. Her action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Marxist elements of the Democratic Party and the conservative justices on the Supreme Court.
The filing follows a series of high court decisions that have sparked significant reactions across the political spectrum. AOC’s filing also reflects ongoing criticism from progressives targeting the court’s conservative justices, particularly amid reports over the past year linking Justice Thomas with influential Republican donors. These reports have intensified scrutiny regarding the enforcement of ethics rules within the Supreme Court.
Additionally, the initiative parallels efforts by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), who have called for the Department of Justice to appoint a special counsel to investigate Thomas criminally. Their concerns involve his alleged acceptance of travel and use of a luxury car, which they argue could constitute ethical violations.
The House needs only a simple majority to pass articles of impeachment, which would then trigger a formal trial in the Senate. However, given the current Republican control of the chamber, Ocasio-Cortez’s impeachment motion faces significant challenges and is unlikely to advance. The current political dynamic mirrors past actions under Democratic control, such as the impeachment hearings held against former President Donald Trump in the Senate.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.