Kamala Harris Avoids Supreme Court Talk, Focuses on Democracy Restoration

Person speaking passionately at a podium with microphone.

Vice President Kamala Harris side-stepped a question on expanding the Supreme Court, instead stressing the importance of safeguarding democracy in light of the January 6 insurrection.

At a Glance

  • President Biden’s Supreme Court reform proposal includes term limits and an ethics code but not expansion.
  • Harris avoided a direct answer on court expansion, redirecting focus to democracy post-January 6.
  • Harris criticized former President Trump as unstable and allegedly planning to misuse the Department of Justice.
  • Rising public support for term limits and ethics code reform for the Supreme Court.

Court Reform Proposals Lacked Expansion

President Biden has proposed an array of reforms for the U.S. Supreme Court, including the implementation of term limits for justices and an enforceable code of ethics. These reforms aim to introduce predictability in court membership by appointing a justice every two years for an 18-year term. The proposed code of ethics would mandate justices to disclose gifts and recuse themselves in cases involving conflicts of interest. Yet, it omits the potentially controversial aspect of court expansion.

Despite these initiatives, Biden’s plan faces significant challenges in clearing the Republican-controlled House and Senate. Nonetheless, public support for Supreme Court reform remains high, with the majority favoring term limits and a formalized ethics code. Endorsing Biden’s plan, Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized restoring public trust and accountability in the court amidst recent scandals affecting its credibility.

Harris Diverts from Court Expansion Question

During a recent CNN town hall, Vice President Kamala Harris shied away from directly addressing whether she would support expanding the Supreme Court to 12 justices. When a voter inquired about her stance, Harris instead shifted the conversation to highlight the aftermath of the Capitol riot on January 6. Harris’s redirection suggests a strategic focus on democratic resilience rather than engaging in contentious debates on court restructuring.

Harris openly criticized former President Donald Trump, labeling him as unstable and unfit for office. She highlighted an alleged intention by Trump to weaponize the Department of Justice as a means to target political adversaries. “In the 13 days, you will decide who is sitting in the Oval Office on Jan. 20. And on one hand, you have in Donald Trump, someone who has increasingly proved [sic] himself to be unstable, and as we have established and the people close to him have established, he is unfit to serve.”

Preserving Democratic Values

Kamala Harris’s position reinforces her prior openness to the idea of expanding the court and imposing term limits on justices, although she has not explicitly backed such measures. Refocusing on democratic values illustrates a decision to engage in broader themes of justice and democracy rather than making definitive policy declarations regarding the Supreme Court.

While reform discussions continue, Harris’s comments underscore the ongoing imperative to uphold democratic ideals amid political upheaval. Her strategic steering away from court expansion debates emphasizes the broader need to safeguard the rule of law and reinforce institutional checks and balances.

Sources:

  1. Harris Backs Biden Call for Supreme Court Overhaul, Immunity Reversal
  2. Harris won’t say if she’d expand Supreme Court; invokes Jan. 6