President Joe Biden faced numerous setbacks during his four-year term as the U.S. Supreme Court, dominated by a conservative majority, struck blows to his agenda and overturned key precedents cherished by liberals. In 2022, the court, with six conservative justices and three liberals, overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision establishing the right to abortion. The court also rejected race-conscious admissions policies supported by the administration, expanded gun rights, invalidated a federal ban on “bump stock” devices, blocked a $430 billion student loan relief plan, and limited the power of federal regulatory agencies.
Legal experts noted that Biden’s series of defeats at the Supreme Court were among the most significant since Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs were challenged in the 1930s. Despite appointing only one justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, who became the first Black woman on the court, Biden’s presidency was marked by a string of high-profile losses in key cases. Biden took office following the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, which solidified a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.
As his presidency comes to an end with the inauguration of his predecessor Donald Trump for a second term, Biden’s efforts to push for changes to the Supreme Court, including term limits and ethics rules, faced opposition. Despite expressing frustration with the court’s decisions, Biden’s proposals for reform did not gain traction amid opposition.
The article discusses how the Biden administration faced challenges in adapting to a Supreme Court that favored conservative interpretations of the Constitution. Legal expert Yoo criticized the administration for not accepting this shift, which he believed made them irrelevant on key constitutional issues. Conservatives, backed by the court, aimed to limit federal agency power, impacting Biden’s policy goals reliant on these agencies due to congressional gridlock. The court’s major questions doctrine allowed them to block executive actions, such as student debt relief and EPA regulations. Despite some wins, like upholding laws on TikTok and gun ownership, other victories were based on legal technicalities rather than resolving underlying issues. These temporary wins may not secure long-term success if the court revisits these matters.
Disappointment echoed through the court as Trump, now out of office, celebrated victories – particularly in three cases concluded last year. Among these, the court sided with Trump in a significant ruling granting him immunity after facing federal criminal charges related to his attempts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election against Biden. This marked the first instance in which the court acknowledged a level of presidential immunity from prosecution, emphasizing that former presidents are shielded for official actions taken while in office.
Reacting to the ruling, President Biden expressed concern, labeling it as “a dangerous precedent.” Steve Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, highlighted that the Biden administration is navigating a landscape shaped by ongoing trends where the court is limiting the authority of federal agencies while bolstering presidential powers. These shifts are poised to significantly impact the enforcement of federal law, according to Schwinn, who foresees immediate ramifications in a potential second Trump administration, with a president poised to capitalize on these developments.
These legal developments come against a backdrop of evolving dynamics within the highest court in the land, underscoring the delicate balance of power between the branches of government. As the judiciary grapples with complex issues at the intersection of law and politics, the implications of these decisions extend far beyond the courtroom, shaping the legal landscape for years to come.
With reporting by John Kruzel and editing by Will Dunham.
