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US President Joe Biden: Already during the election campaign there were calls from his party to reform the Supreme Court
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KEVIN LAMARQUE / REUTERS
After the dispute over the appointment of the conservative US constitutional judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Joe Biden sets up a commission for possible reforms at the Supreme Court.
The group of experts should, among other things, examine possible changes in the number of judges and the length of their term of office, the White House said on Friday.
The commission with 36 members is to deliberate publicly and present its report in six months.
The advantages and disadvantages as well as the legal basis of various reform proposals should be examined, it said.
There is always talk of enlarging the court and limiting the terms of office.
In the US, constitutional judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
The current nine judges are appointed for life.
Their judgments are central to controversial issues such as abortion and gun law.
After Biden's predecessor Donald Trump was able to appoint three new judges, the conservative wing is likely to have a majority for years, if not decades.
Left democrats in particular are therefore calling for reforms.
While Congress could adjust the number of judges comparatively easily, other reforms would require a constitutional amendment, according to experts.
mjm / Reuters / AFP
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