This nation was founded on a simple yet profound principle: No one is above the law. Not the president of the United States. Not a justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. No one.

But the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on July 1 to grant presidents broad immunity from prosecution for crimes they commit in office means there are virtually no limits on what a president can do. The only limits will be those that are self-imposed by the person occupying the Oval Office.

If a future president incites a violent mob to storm the Capitol and stop the peaceful transfer of power — like we saw on Jan. 6, 2021 — there may be no legal consequences.

And that’s only the beginning.

On top of dangerous and extreme decisions that overturn settled legal precedents — including Roe v. Wade — the court is mired in a crisis of ethics. Scandals involving several justices have caused the public to question the court’s fairness and independence, which are essential to faithfully carrying out its mission of equal justice under the law. For example, undisclosed gifts to justices from individuals with interests in cases before the court, as well as conflicts of interest connected with Jan. 6 insurrectionists, raise legitimate questions about the court’s impartiality.

  • @unitymatters
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    12 months ago

    In regards to term limits, some say that only a constitutional amendment could enforce term limits on Supreme Court justices, as current proposed legislation would be unconstitutional. They argue that the relegation of judges to a new form of senior status runs afoul to the constitutional provision allowing justices to serve “in good Behaviour” in Article III Section 1.

    https://ace-usa.org/blog/research/research-democratic-governance/pros-and-cons-of-enacting-supreme-court-term-limits/

  • @jordanlundM
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    -62 months ago

    Yeah, good luck with a Republican congress and needing 60 votes in the Senate…

      • @[email protected]
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        fedilink
        322 months ago

        Theoretically, he could have them all killed and it’s not a big deal because he can’t be prosecuted for things while president. Whooopsie.

        • @[email protected]
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          fedilink
          42 months ago

          It would have to be an official act defined in the constitution, but, if all of the R justices are gone…

          • @MutilationWave
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            72 months ago

            Don’t call people like Sonia Sotomayor a traitor. She sits on the same bench but she is certainly not. Oversimplifying and vilifying an entire group on the actions of some is fascist shit.