Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren confirm that she and some of her congressional colleagues are ready to reform the Supreme Court—an institution she says is damaging democracy—in an interview on CNN’s State of The Union on Sunday.
“Right now, we have a Supreme Court that has essentially crossed the line and given the president power, saying the president can take any action the president wants,” Warren said, referring to the court’s recent action decision where they sided with the Republican candidate and former president Donald TrumpIn that case, six conservative justices found that “the Presidential Power grants former Presidents absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions” taken as part of their official duties.
“We have a Supreme Court that is actively undermining our democracy,” Warren continued.
The senator’s comments came as President Joe Biden scheduled for release Supreme Court Reform Plan on Monday, according to Politico. Biden is expected to support establishing term limits for judges and an enforceable ethics code “in an announcement that represents a notable shift for a president who has long resisted calls to reform the Supreme Court,” Politico wrote.
On Wednesday, in an Oval Office speech explaining why he step down From the race, Biden said that in the next six months in office, he will “focus on doing my job as president.”
“That means I will continue to lower costs for hard-working families, grow our economy,” Biden said, adding, “and I will call for Supreme Court reform because it is so important to our democracy.”
During the Supreme Court’s most recent term, the justices, in addition to the presidential immunity case, beaten downplayed the Chevron doctrine, a precedent that required courts to defer to the reasoned judgments of federal agencies and if not weaken national regulations. The Court also kicked on abortion rights and ruling that homeless people maybe subject to criminal penalties for sleeping in public.
These court reform moves, both in Congress and the Executive Office, are in part a response to growing scrutiny of the Supreme Court over concerns about undisclosed gifts and political involvement by some justices’ spouses.
Last year, a ProPublica investigation found that, for more than two decades, Justice Clarence Thomas has been treated to lavish vacations by billionaires and political sponsor Harlan Crow“There are few restrictions on what gifts judges can accept,” ProPublica writes. “That’s in contrast to other branches of government. Members of Congress are generally prohibited from accepting gifts worth $50 or more.” Crow, in addition to spending millions of dollars over the years on local and national Republican candidates, provide initial donation of $500,000 to the lobbying organization founded by the judge’s wife, Ginni Thomas.
Supreme Court of Justice Samuel Alito‘Wife of, Martha-Annalso have being attacked for flying two flags synonymous with the “Stop the Steal” movement—the baseless right-wing theory that the 2020 election was stolen—outside the couple’s homes in Virginia and New Jersey. Martha-Ann also speak that she wished she could hang a Catholic flag outside their home in response to the LGBTQ+ flag in her neighborhood.
“I wanted a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag because I have to look across the lagoon to see the Pride flag next month,” she told the documentary filmmaker, calling herself an “advocacy journalist.” Lauren WindsorWhen Justice Alito reportedly objected to his wife’s wishes, Martha-Ann claimed she said, “When you get rid of this nonsense, I’m going to put it up, and I’m going to send them a message every day. Maybe every week, I’m going to change the flag.”
