On Sunday, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) discussed the possibility of expanding the Supreme Court and voiced her support for term limits for justices with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki.
Pelosi said, “It’s been over 150 years since we’ve had an expansion of the court,” when Psaki asked her about term limits or enlarging the Supreme Court. The increase to nine occurred during Lincoln’s presidency. This raises the question of whether or not it is something worth debating. It’s not like a rallying cry or something. It’s more of a debate, though. Just because the president appointed a commission and the commission did not suggest expanding the court does not mean the issue is closed.
Moreover, Pelosi argued that Supreme Court justices should be subject to term restrictions and ethical standards. She recounted a conversation she had with a justice in which she questioned the honesty of other judges to demonstrate her displeasure with the current administration.
ProPublica’s investigations into Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito raised questions about the Court’s authority. Pelosi urged the Supreme Court to write its own code of ethics, and she applauded Senator Whitehouse’s efforts to draw attention to the measures needed to preserve the court’s credibility.
Pelosi commented that the 30% approval rating for the Supreme Court, which is a record low according to Quinnipiac polls, felt high to her.
Pelosi spoke about abortion as a major issue for Democrats on the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. According to her, the party’s stance on abortion was a vital factor in avoiding devastating losses in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.
Pelosi said the court had violated its own precedent and the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution, arguing that it was necessary to overturn the Roe decision. She said that Congress must do something to protect and expand Americans’ freedoms and that she has faith that it can do so.