What are the chances of Biden getting to change the composition of the Supreme Court?

[Poiuyt]

If Breyer retires or passes away, not much will change. But Thomas and Alito are in their 70s and may decide to retire, or they could die young like Scalia. I don't anticipate either taking place, but stranger things have happened.

The other possibility is that the Court gets expanded. When this was discussed last year, analysts said that it probably wouldn't happen unless the Court made some extreme decisions. If the Court does reverse R v W, that might be enough to change people's minds about things.

[rpannier]

1. Nil

Thomas and Alito will never retire as long as there is a Democrat in the WH
With Thomas, Satan may finally call him home. Alito's death wouldn't hurt my feelings in the slightest

[Elessar Zappa]

2. Not good.

There’s probably ten Democrats who would oppose expanding the Court.

[Claustrum]

5. Don't you need more than a simple majority for it anyways?

[Elessar Zappa]

6. I'm not sure.

[Mr.Bill]

9. Not since McConnell changed the rules

to get the garbage he wanted on the court.

[leftieNanner]

18. I think the legislation to expand the court would need to pass via Senate rules

Which means that it could be filibustered.

The confirmation of the Justices themselves, only a simple majority.

That's my understanding of it anyway.

[Claustrum]

20. That's the way I remember it too.

Which means, we need more than all of the democrats to expand the court, which means never.

[msongs]

3. depends on what mitch mconnell's pets do nt

[Scrivener7]

4. Breyer better retire.

[dem4decades]

10. If RBG had retired during Obama we wouldn't have to deal with "you can

Put them up for adoption" Amy

[PortTack]

12. Have to agree

[Scrivener7]

13. I was roundly roasted here at the time for suggesting it.

[PTWB]

15. Are those same folks now shocked and appalled that Roe is on the chopping block?

Pragmatism isn't sexism.

[Scrivener7]

16. Yep.

[dem4decades]

17. Well this is what we're stuck with, for years and years.

[PTWB]

14. Yep.

In my friendship circles some of us were very vocal about advocating for her retirement under Obama. We were met with some fierce opposition by progressive Democrats who took offense and called us sexist instead of pragmatic.

Those same folks are now shocked and appalled that Roe is on the chopping block.

I'm not above loudly and frequently reminding them, 'I told you so!'

[Claustrum]

22. I thought we would have learned the lesson from RGB and replace Breyer quick.

But it doesn't look like we are doing anything about it. We are cutting close to 22 midterms and who knows if we will still have the senate after that. I am on the "don't risk it" group.

[Groundhawg]

24. on principal I agree with you but

Breyer has dedicated his life to us and served us well. I won't ever ask a reliable soldier like this to step down for my desires.

[BlueJac]

7. Breyer loves the attention...

He could careless what happens

[Mr.Bill]

8. You mean what are the chances

of Manchin or Sinema getting to change the composition of the Supreme Court?

[dem4decades]

11. As Dean Woemer would say, 0.0.

[leftieNanner]

19. Does that mean

Double Secret Probation?

[dem4decades]

28. yes, but the Dean wasn't correct all the time, being fat, drunk and stupid can get you on the SC.

That's a way to go through life.

[leftieNanner]

29. Funny Movie

I knew some guys in college who would certainly have joined Bluto, Boone, etc.

[Phoenix61]

21. One blood clot. One slip and fall. Accidents

happen. They happen more often to people who drink too much, even beer.

[leftieNanner]

23. Be Still My Heart

[Phoenix61]

26. It makes me smile and keeps me hopeful. nt

[royable]

25. And I was thinking along the lines of meteor strikes and smouldering craters. n/t

[leftieNanner]

27. That would be OK too.

I'm not picky.

[BlueTsunami2018]

30. Zero chance of expanding the court.

We can only hope two or more of the fascists on the court meet a quick demise. That would be the only way to change the dynamics. Don’t hold your breath.

[In It to Win It]

31. There's always a chance for anything

If Breyer dies or retires, the ideological composition of the court will remain exactly the same.

Thomas and Alito will die befoe they retire while Biden is president.

The court being expanded has a near-zero chance of ever happening. One of the jobs of Congress is to expand the courts (including the lower courts) should Congress find it necessary to do so. Time to expand the courts has long passed but expanding the courts have been turned into a political football. Nobody will do it because it will be framed as a power grab.