Mitch McConnell opposes Biden's 'unconstitutional' proposal to curtail Supreme Court's justices' terms

WASHINGTON, DC: Senior most Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, 82, criticized President Joe Biden’s proposed term limits for Supreme Court justices.

McConnell called them “unconstitutional" and made it clear that such proposals would be “dead on arrival” in Congress.

Mitch McConnell feels disappointed over Supreme Court justices' term limits

Mitch McConnell expressed his surprise at Joe Biden’s suggestion. He highlighted the president's long tenure as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee as a reason for his disappointment.

“I couldn’t be more disappointed. This is a man who was chairman of the Judiciary Committee for a long time. He absolutely knows what he recommended is unconstitutional, to try to limit the terms of the Supreme Court justices who under the Constitution are appointed for life,” McConnell said of Biden.

“That shows you the depth to which they have gone lately to attack the Supreme Court because they don’t like the current makeup of the court and decisions they disapprove of,” McConnell said of Democrats, The Hill reported. 

“The way to change the makeup of the court is to win the presidency and the Senate and appoint people that you like, but not to try to break — break — the Supreme Court. This is a level that I think is just simply unacceptable.”

McConnell also added, “I know he knows better, and such a proposal would be dead on arrival in Congress.”

 

Joe Biden’s call for constitutional amendments

Joe Biden has also proposed a constitutional amendment to ensure that no former president would have immunity for crimes committed while in office and has called for a binding code of conduct for Supreme Court justices.

In a Washington Post op-ed, Biden cited the Supreme Court’s recent 6-3 decision granting presidents broad immunity from prosecution for crimes committed as official acts and the Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade.

Biden noted his long service as a senator and his roles as chair and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

“I have great respect for our institutions and separation of powers,” he wrote. “What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms.”

Internet reacts to Mitch McConnell’s comments on Supreme Court reforms

Mitch McConnell's remarks dismissing Joe Biden’s proposed term limits for Supreme Court justices sparked a wave of reactions online.

Many critics pointed to McConnell’s significant influence on the current makeup of the Court, while others humorously questioned his vitality and approach to judicial reforms.

“Mitch, please. YOU are the person who did this,” wrote one critic on X (formerly Twitter), pointing to McConnell’s role in shaping the current Supreme Court.

“Of course it is, the corrupt, partisan Supreme Court is ‘McConnell’s legacy,’” penned another.

“That’s what they call Mitch when he comes to work in the morning,” quipped one user.

“The Constitution can and SHOULD be altered, it is no longer the 18th century and we as a nation need to ACT like it is...,” wrote another commenter.

“You know what? Based on how they’ve been behaving lately I’d say it was well past time,” remarked someone else.

“Absolutely because he is the one that unethically stacked it and doesn’t care about balance or rights. Just winning. From being too old to not representing the times term limits are needed for both sides,” wrote one more.

“Odd choice of words for someone who regularly needs to be nudged back to life,” another user added.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.