Utah Sen Mike Lee calls expanding the Supreme Court “arrogant lawlessness”
Apr 15, 2021, 7:43 AM
FILE - In this June 24, 2019 file photo, the empty courtroom is seen at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. Because of the coronavirus pandemic the Supreme Court is holding arguments by phone for the first time in its 230-year history. Attorneys say the teleconference arguments in 10 cases over six days present a range of challenges. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
SALT LAKE CITY — Four Congressional Democrats are expected to propose legislation that would allow an expanding the US Supreme Court, from 9 to 13 justices.
The news came Wednesday night in a tweet from Representative Mondaire Jones, a Democrat from New York.
“Our democracy is under assault, and the Supreme Court has dealt the sharpest blows,” he wrote. “To restore power to the people, we must #ExpandTheCourt.”
Our democracy is under assault, and the Supreme Court has dealt the sharpest blows.
To restore power to the people, we must #ExpandTheCourt.
That’s why I’m introducing the Judiciary Act of 2021 with @RepJerryNadler, @RepHankJohnson, and @SenMarkey to add four seats to SCOTUS. https://t.co/iW0hlmIpwk
— Rep. Mondaire Jones (@RepMondaire) April 15, 2021
Utah Senator Mike Lee says this is “an act of arrogant lawlessness.”
Packing the court is an act of arrogant lawlessness. Those behind this effort spit in the face of judicial independence.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 15, 2021
Lee co-sponsored a joint resolution to amend the constitution to keep the size of the Supreme Court at 9 justices.
Some House Republicans also have a bill to do the same thing.
The size of the Court can be changed by an act of Congress. But it faces obstacles.
Democrats hold slim majorities in both Houses of Congress and not many are on board with the legislation.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has called the expansion a “dangerous and antiquated idea.”
While campaigning President Biden also said he didn’t want to turn the Court into a “political football” but would look for recommendations to reform the court system that go beyond expanding the Supreme Court.
This comes less than a week after Mr. Biden proposed creating a commission to study reforms like adding seats, setting limits on justices length of service, and the Court’s case selection and practices.
