Congressional Progressive Caucus backs measure to expand Supreme Court

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

The Congressional Progressive Caucus on Wednesday endorsed a bill expanding the Supreme Court, reinvigorating the push for a larger bench after the effort fizzled last summer.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the Democratic coalition believes the "urgent work to restore American democracy" must involve expanding the Supreme Court.

The bill, dubbed the Judiciary Act of 2021, would expand the Supreme Court from nine seats to 13. Proponents believe the legislation would restore balance to the court, which currently has a 6-3 conservative majority.

Jayapal said the sitting bench was "filled by a partisan, right-wing effort to entrench a radical, anti-democratic faction and erode human rights that have been won over decades."

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/congressional-progressive-caucus-backs-measure-to-expand-supreme-court/ar-AAStfef

[ColinC]

1. Significant. Now we just need to win enough seats next year to make

It at least a possibility.

[WA-03 Democrat]

2. Cool!

Let's fight for equal justice and rights!

[BigmanPigman]

3. It wouldn't be the first time the SCOTUS was "balanced".

I wonder if Dems should pick up this issue for the midterms?

[brooklynite]

4. And they can introduce a Bill to do that any time they want; they haven't.

[Polybius]

5. And I back myself getting a $50 an hour job

Neither have much of a chance at happening.

[oasis]

6. Fifteen sounds good.

[JohnSJ]

7. and with the current makeup of Congress, just how do they think that will happen

[YP_Yooper]

8. Short lived

because once it becomes a modern precedent, a new majority will just pass another bill to get their favorites in place and adjust seats and qualifications accordingly. Sure there are some who say "who cares so long as what we have now could be blown up", but the whole idea is that the SCOTUS should be insulated from near-term politics. There is value in legal stability and predictability in general and is the foundation of stare decisis - and I'm NOT saying nothing should be done, either. It's not just a simple matter of adding seats to dilute the right-side of the court.

Remember, the problem first and foremost is that Congress hasn't passed bills creating the laws we need, and are blaming SCOTUS for not taking up the slack.

[sdfernando]

9. I think the bill should be written to tie the number of Supreme Court Justices

to the number of Circuit Courts. That is where the number 13 comes from. There are currently 13 Circuit Courts in the U.S. If more circuits are created then the number of SC Justices would increase.

[YP_Yooper]

10. You know, I've heard that before

maybe from you elsewhere
This makes the most sense, and keeps overt politics out of it.