Biden outlines court reforms as he marks Civil Rights anniversary in Austin
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Biden departs the White House en route to Austin on July 29. Photo: Bonnie Cash/Getty Images
In his first public event since announcing that he'll no longer seek re-election, President Biden addressed a friendly crowd at Austin's LBJ Presidential Library and outlined his plan for sweeping reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Why it matters: The remarks by Biden commemorated the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
- And Biden's visit marked the first time in almost five years that Air Force One has touched down in Austin.
The big picture: Ahead of his speech Monday, the Biden administration unveiled a plan for reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court, underscoring the issue as a priority in the president's final months in office.
- Biden called on Congress to set term limits for justices and to pass a binding and enforceable code of ethics for Supreme Court justices, labeling the current voluntary system "weak."
- "Justices should be required to disclose gifts, refrain from public political activity and recuse themselves from cases in which they or their spouses have financial or other conflicts of interest," Biden wrote in a Washington Post op-ed Monday.
What they're saying: Biden said during Monday's speech that he's calling for "bold reforms to restore trust and accountability to the court and our democracy."
- "I have great respect for institutions and the separation of powers laid out in our Constitution, but what's happening now is not consistent with that doctrine of the separation of powers."
Yes, but: Biden didn't consult key congressional Democrats about his proposal, Axios first reported.
Between the lines: Rather than a run-of-the-mill visit by a sitting president, Biden's trip to Austin came after two unprecedented weekends for the country.
- The LBJ Library event, which was originally scheduled for July 15, was postponed after the attempted assassination of former President Trump. It was rescheduled after Biden announced that he would exit the race after questions from his own party about his age.
- U.S. Reps. Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett met the president at the airport, despite questions about whether Doggett would be invited in the lead-up to the event. He was the first Democratic member of Congress to call on the president to exit the race.
Zoom in: Biden, who has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the top of the Democratic ticket, didn't explicitly mention his decision to exit the race.
- However, he did praise Harris: "She's been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country."
Biden closed his speech by pointing to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
- "Imagine that moment and ask yourself, 'What do we want to be?'" Biden said. "We must protect and expand civil rights in America."
What's next: Biden planned on Monday to fly from Austin to Houston, where he'll pay his respects to the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who served in Congress for three decades.