President Biden's official White House website continues to praise the lifetime appointments of the Supreme Court, despite his recently announced intentions to alter the system.
In the About section of the website, an informational page about the Judiciary Branch praises the lifetime appointment system as a bulwark against 'temporary passions of the public.'
'Judges and Justices serve no fixed term — they serve until their death, retirement, or conviction by the Senate,' the White House website states. 'By design, this insulates them from the temporary passions of the public, and allows them to apply the law with only justice in mind, and not electoral or political concerns.'
A White House spokesperson confirmed that the website's text praising lifetime positions on the Supreme Court is outdated and a remnant from the previous administration.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have recently declared their support for Supreme Court term limits, ethics rules, and a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity. This marks a significant shift in Biden's stance on the issue, as he had previously resisted calls for major changes to the high court.
Biden's op-ed emphasized the need to restore public confidence in the court's decisions, citing concerns about the impact on personal freedoms and the integrity of the judiciary. The Democratic Party has criticized the Supreme Court's conservative majority, accusing them of compromising the court's integrity.
The proposed reforms, including 18-year term limits and a binding code of conduct for Supreme Court justices, aim to address these concerns and ensure a fair and impartial judiciary. Biden's administration is seeking to implement these changes to strengthen the court and uphold the principles of justice and democracy.