House Republican Proposes Constitutional Amendment To Permanently Fix Size Of SCOTUS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
As the Washington Examiner reported yesterday:
When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proclaimed that Democrats should "pack the Supreme Court of the United States of America," she was floating a fringe fantasy of increasing the number of justices from nine to 15 as a way of kick-starting a left-wing transformation of America.
Now, the idea has gone mainstream. ...
Four 2020 candidates are following her lead and have endorsed or are open to "packing the court." The pressure group Pack the Courts is advertising using Means of Production, a self-described pro-Marxist production firm that produced viral online ads for Ocasio-Cortez.
Linking the Democratic party's leftist and establishment wings, Pack the Courts has teamed up with Demand Justice, a group run by Brian Fallon, a former Hillary Clinton press secretary.
Now, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) has proposed a constitutional amendment that would preclude such machinations by permanently fixing the size of the Court at nine justices. Conservative Review reports:
The proposal from House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., comes in response to recent talk from Democratic presidential candidates about packing the Supreme Court with extra judges if they gain control of the Oval Office in 2020.
"Schemes to 'court pack' thwart the Founders’ intent to create an independent and impartial judiciary that serves as a check on both the Executive and Legislative branches of government," reads a press release from Green, who also explained that Democrats would pack the court with "liberal, activist justices who will pass rulings that conform to their dystopian, socialist agenda."


 

This_person

Well-Known Member
While there should never be a reason to this, as the Justices should render their opinions based on the Constitution and law, not political leanings, there's also absolutely no reason to increase the size in the future (just like there's no reason to have two presidents or something).

Seems a reasonable thing to do, but I have a lot more ways I'd fix the constitution before this.
 

Merlin99

Visualize whirled peas
PREMO Member
I'm not even sure that it's a legislative issue, the size of the SC and who determines that isn't spelled out in the constitution so it may be the the court itself is the best arbiter of its own makeup
 

Ken King

A little rusty but not crusty
PREMO Member
I'm not even sure that it's a legislative issue, the size of the SC and who determines that isn't spelled out in the constitution so it may be the the court itself is the best arbiter of its own makeup
The power is Congresses - Article III, section 1, "The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."

The Congress can say how many they want on the court, but the President gets to pick them. So do it, bounce it to 15 and give Trump 6 more picks.
 

Merlin99

Visualize whirled peas
PREMO Member
The power is Congresses - Article III, section 1, "The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."

The Congress can say how many they want on the court, but the President gets to pick them. So do it, bounce it to 15 and give Trump 6 more picks.
I don't see it, it doesn't say a thing about the size of the court or who determines it.
 
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