Senate Democrats’ New Push for Judicial Reform
As the fall session approaches, Senate Democrats are gearing up for a renewed effort to make judicial reform a central political issue. This initiative includes advocating for stricter ethics guidelines for Supreme Court justices and seeking to reverse certain controversial rulings. Additionally, Democrats are racing to confirm a significant number of President Biden’s judicial nominees.
This shift marks a significant turnaround for both Senate Democrats and President Biden, who initially hesitated to adopt major reforms in the judicial system during the early years of his presidency. However, recent contentious Supreme Court decisions and ongoing ethical concerns surrounding the justices have prompted a change in strategy.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, emphasized that the circumstances have elevated the importance of judicial reform. He noted that President Biden’s recent commitment to court overhaul, coupled with his decision to step back from the 2024 election race, has accelerated the urgency of this initiative. With Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as the party’s likely nominee, her background in judicial matters further underscores the significance of this endeavor.
“Prioritizing judicial reform, both in terms of ethics and substantive changes, is now much more pressing,” Schumer stated in an interview as the Senate prepared to adjourn for the August recess and the upcoming Democratic convention in Chicago. “We are prepared to explore every possible avenue.”
In line with this strategy, Schumer has already announced plans to investigate legislative options to counteract the recent Supreme Court ruling that granted broad presidential immunity for various official actions. On Thursday, he, along with approximately three dozen Democratic colleagues, introduced the No Kings Act. This proposed legislation aims to reaffirm that sitting presidents are not immune from criminal law violations and seeks to eliminate the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over the constitutionality of this statutory provision.
Furthermore, Senate Democrats are examining the feasibility of imposing term limits and ethical standards on Supreme Court justices through legislative measures rather than pursuing a constitutional amendment. This approach presents its own challenges, requiring supermajorities in both congressional chambers and ratification from three-quarters of the states.
