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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSupreme Court Shoot Themselves in Foot as Democrats Prepare for Battle to Expand Court
The U.S. Supreme Court's failure to block a restrictive new Texas abortion law may have handed "ammunition" to progressives who want to see the court expanded, but reform remains unlikely, experts have told Newsweek.
The 5-4 decision not to grant an emergency application for a stay of Senate Bill (SB) 8 has renewed the debate about adding more justices to the nation's highest court, an idea referred to as court packing
Critics of the decision, including Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, have said the Texas abortion ban violates the precedent set in the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade and criticized the majority for allowing the law to go ahead.
Calls to reform the Supreme Court are likely to become more urgent following the decision, while some Democrats were already public supporters of expansion.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/supreme-court-shoot-themselves-in-foot-as-democrats-prepare-for-battle-to-expand-court/ar-AAO4bX1
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,485 posts)She sure as hell should be. Cowardly Kavanaugh LIED to her.
RicROC
(1,203 posts)she is unfit to be hold the office of a US Senator. With her years of experience in the public sector, her being fooled (again) shows her incompetence and/or aging process.
TheRealNorth
(9,435 posts)Because her "concerns" were all BS to begin with.
She just doesnt care about womens rights
Dan
(3,524 posts)dalton99a
(81,073 posts)It is a diseased, rotten, corrupt enabler of racists, fascists, and profiteers
It is an auxiliary arm of the Republican Party, and completely devoted to perpetuating minority rule.
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)gab13by13
(20,867 posts)LW1977
(1,227 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)But pressure is mounting. This happens, or America is dead.
RussBLib
(8,985 posts)Maybe I'm being too picky today. Perhaps the "idea" of America will be dead, but the country would morph, or slide, into some less-free version. There are lots of examples and lots of less-attractive forms of government out there.
As in, the Roman Empire is dead, but there are still lots of Italians.
But I know what you meant.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)But democracy, proportional representation, freedom, decency, and many thousands of people will all die. The Reptilians have already murdered over 600,000 people with COVID, and they are just getting started. They are constantly finding new ways to kill Americans and American democracy.
liberalhistorian
(20,809 posts)bona fide rw rag good only for fish wrap, window cleaning and bird cage lining. I used to read it frequently, but haven't trusted it for many years now.
aocommunalpunch
(4,223 posts)There will be lots of words, donated money, and likely fuck all else.
SoCalDavidS
(9,998 posts)totodeinhere
(13,037 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)"Court packing" is the RW derogatory term for it.
And dammit, we do it or the Republic dies.
edhopper
(33,208 posts)we don't have the votes.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)No point even trying to save ourselves.
edhopper
(33,208 posts)enlarging the Court can't happen, means we are giving up?
How about not spinning our wheels on something that won't happen.
Why waste time and energy on something that will fail?
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Some reforms will take longer than others.
We keep trying.
edhopper
(33,208 posts)and the more time you spend on ones that will never pass, the less chances of passing ones that are possible.
calimary
(80,700 posts)I am, about being told we dont have the votes!
Hey, the CONS have been in the minority and they STILL find ways to get their way. WHY CANT OUR TEAM DO THAT?????
totodeinhere
(13,037 posts)members of the Democratic caucus.
edhopper
(33,208 posts)and I wish we would figure that out.
But until the Democratic leadership finds a way to keep Senators like Manchin and Simena in line, we don't have the votes.
jcgoldie
(11,584 posts)...they have no worries.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,539 posts)Republicans have been told to write Manchin and Sinema thank-you letters for protecting the filibuster. "Without that, we would be dead meat, and [passing Biden's agenda] would be done," a GOP congressman said.
brooklynite
(93,873 posts)A handful of progressive House members introducing a Bill that is unconstitutional, without the support of the House Speaker, Senate Majority Leader or President, sounds a little one-sided.
bucolic_frolic
(42,676 posts)Ridiculous the way conservatives have had access to the Court, with quick, shallow rulings with major consequences, while anything anti-conservative languishes in the judiciary docket elsewhere. Roberts has carved a shameful place in history for himself, in my view, if he has had anything to do with this.
totodeinhere
(13,037 posts)That may not matter though. Who knows if he would have come down on the right side if the conservatives needed his vote, which of course they don't anymore.
jalan48
(13,798 posts)Dan
(3,524 posts)spike jones
(1,656 posts)That should cut down on feathering the retirement nest.
Regarding the term limit set in the Constitution (for life), Keep the retired justices in the Supreme Court, but as non-voting members as a change in their duties. This may avoid changing the Constitution.
world wide wally
(21,719 posts)All it takes is the balls to do it.
Response to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)
Maine Abu El Banat This message was self-deleted by its author.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)And 13 justices makes perfect sense. One for each of the 13 judicial circuit courts in the country.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)I agree with your number, as well.
ecstatic
(32,567 posts)When one party has basically become the insurrection/conspiracy theory party, there's really no path forward and they shouldn't hold any seats, as far as I'm concerned. The Court will continue to be a joke regardless of if we can temporarily add seats. Are there any other solutions provided in the Constitution?
roamer65
(36,739 posts)One for each federal circuit.
ColinC
(8,232 posts)If we gain seats, we can expand the court. If we lose seats, say goodbye to democracy.
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)double up in their offices. I would laugh and laugh. Wouldnt feel all judgy then...
aggiesal
(8,864 posts)Added 4 more justices to make 13 justices.
6 "Liberal" justices
6 "Conservative" justices
1 Chief Justice
1 Associate Chief Justice (from the voting side of the Chief Justice)
Then every case would only use 9 justices out of the available 13 justices, to sit and hear the case.
If the current President is a (R), then
Conservatives justices would have a 5-4 majority bench
If the current President is a (D), then
Liberal justice would have a 5-4 majority bench.
This will limit the majority to only 4 or 8 years, based on the party in the WH.
Currently Biden would've had a 5-4 majority and the Texas court case would have been
granted an emergency stay.
The Associate Chief Justice would only be used, to give the chief justice a break and
not have to sit through 100% of the cases.
When a justice dies or retires, then the President MUST replace that justice with another justice
with the same leanings (i.e. conservative justice replaced by a conservative justice AND liberal justice replaced by a liberal justice)
Obviously a liberal President having to replace a conservative justice would try to replace a conservative justice that leans closer to the middle than to the far right.
While a conservative President having to replace a liberal justice would try to replace a liberal justice that leans closer to the middle than to the far left.
Currently (D) candidates have won the popular vote in Presidential elections 7 of the last 8 elections,
while (D) Presidents have only seated 5 SC Justices and (R) Presidents have seated 14 justices.
(R)'s have taken advantage of, maybe even abused, the Electoral College and the Court system.