SUPREME Court judge Neil Gorsuch has issued a statement in response to Biden’s attempts to reform the court.
During a sit-down interview with Fox News, Gorsuch issued a stern warning to the president who recently announced his desire to change elements of the nation’s highest court.
Gorsuch warned Biden to exercise caution while dealing with the court as the judiciary branch is meant to oversee the powers of the Executive Branch.
“It’s there for the moments when the spotlight’s on you, when the government’s coming after you,” Gorsuch said.
“And don’t you want a ferociously independent judge and a jury of your peers to make those decisions? Isn’t that your right as an American?”
“And so I just say, be careful,” he added.
Gorsuch, who was appointed to the court by former president Donal Trump in April 2017, also claimed Americans would not be thrilled with the sweeping changes.
“I´m not saying that there aren’t ways to improve what we have,” he added.
“I’m simply saying that we´ve been given something very special. It´s the envy of the world, the United States judiciary.”
“Too little law and we´re not safe, and our liberties aren´t protected. But too much law and you actually impair those same things,” said Gorsuch.
The court, which currently enjoys a 6-3 Republican majority, had been a target of the 81-year-old president since he announced he would not be seeking reelection in November.
Biden announced the reforms during a speech at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas last month.
“For all practical purposes, the court’s decision almost certainly means that the president can violate the oath, flout our laws, and face no consequences,” Biden said.
“Folks, just imagine what a president could do trampling civil rights and liberties, given such immunity.”
“Extremism is undermining the public confidence in the court’s decisions,” Biden said adding that if Trump were to be reelected, it would lead to “onslaught attacking civil rights in America.”
Under Biden’s proposed plan, the nine justices would face term limits, a code of conduct, and even a constitutional amendment that would severely limit presidential immunity.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris backed Biden’s bid for reform.
“President Biden and I are calling on Congress to pass important reforms – from imposing term limits for Justices’ active service, to requiring Justices to comply with binding ethics rules just like every other federal judge,” said Harris.
“And finally, in our democracy, no one should be above the law. So we must also ensure that no former President has immunity for crimes committed while in the White House.”
“These popular reforms will help to restore confidence in the Court, strengthen our democracy, and ensure no one is above the law.”
