During his single term in office, President Joe Biden has exposed significant flaws within the United States justice system through a series of controversial events. Now, he’s calling on Americans to respect that very system, despite its evident inconsistencies.
The current president appears to view the numerous legal actions against former President Donald Trump as a positive development. These actions have intensified as Biden’s main rival for the upcoming November election faces increasing scrutiny. However, Biden’s relationship with the conservative-majority Supreme Court has been strained over the past three and a half years.
One of the most notable points of contention was the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, which shifted the legislative responsibility for abortion laws back to the states. Additionally, the Supreme Court has posed significant obstacles to Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. Despite these setbacks, Biden has persisted, employing executive actions and finding legal loopholes to advance his agenda.
At a campaign event in Philadelphia, Biden remarked, “The Supreme Court blocked me from relieving student debt, but they didn’t stop me.” This statement underscores his determination to push forward despite judicial opposition, a move some critics view as an attempt to secure votes for the upcoming presidential election.
Simultaneously, as Democratic prosecutors pursue legal actions against Trump in New York City and Fulton County, Georgia, and as special counsel Jack Smith leads federal efforts, Biden continues to assert his respect for the justice system. This stance comes off as hypocritical to many, given his own defiance of the Supreme Court when it suits his purposes.
Biden’s recent comments about the Trump trial have drawn particular ire. Only two days after boasting about circumventing the Supreme Court, Biden called on Americans to trust the verdict in Trump’s trial. “Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself. It was a state case, not a federal case, and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you,” Biden stated, according to The Associated Press.
Critics argue that the trial was far from fair and just. Concerns about Judge Juan Merchan’s donations to Biden’s campaign and anti-Trump groups in 2020, which CNN reports as contrary to New York state rules for judges and allegations that the charges against Trump were exaggerated, fuel skepticism about the trial’s integrity.
Biden, however, dismisses these concerns. “It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict,” he said at the White House. “Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it literally is the cornerstone of America. The justice system should be respected. And we should never allow anyone to tear it down.”
Many see Biden’s plea for respect for the justice system as self-serving. With Trump potentially facing a “felon” label, Biden’s campaign could use this against him. If voters begin to question the methods used to achieve this label, it could undermine the Democratic strategy.
Biden’s selective respect for the courts—disregarding the Supreme Court’s authority while urging respect for the lower courts handling Trump’s case—appears disingenuous. It reflects a broader pattern of behavior that critics argue is typical of his administration.
