Last week, the Democratic Party ignited a renewed push to expand the number of liberal justices on the Supreme Court, driven by their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as conservative rulings on significant cases.
Throughout Thursday and Friday, the Supreme Court delivered judgments on a range of highly publicized cases. These included decisions against race-based admissions policies at prominent institutions like Harvard and the University of North Carolina, in favor of a Christian graphic designer who declined to create wedding websites for same-sex couples, and against President Biden’s program for student loan forgiveness. These rulings sparked a wave of frustration and anger among Democrats and liberals, leading to widespread calls for an expansion of the court’s composition to mitigate the influence of the conservative majority. This conservative majority was solidified by the appointment of three conservative justices during the tenure of former President Donald Trump.
Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) argued that adding more justices to the Supreme Court should not be seen as an extreme measure, emphasizing that it is the court’s rulings themselves that deviate from established norms.
In a tweet shared on Friday, Schiff stated, “Expanding the size of the Supreme Court isn’t extreme or unprecedented—but the opinions of this Court certainly are.”
Schiff also reiterated his position in an email sent to supporters of his Senate campaign, emphasizing the urgent need to “rebalance” the court by increasing the number of justices, implementing term limits, and adopting a code of ethics in line with other federal courts. He attributed the necessity for court expansion to the existing imbalance resulting from appointments made by Trump and Mitch McConnell, arguing that the consequences of this imbalance have become evident in recent rulings.
Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) expressed support for considering the idea of expanding the number of justices on the court, underscoring the importance of exploring all available options. Pressley criticized the court for eroding civil and human rights and emphasized the need for reforms and enlargement.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a vocal proponent of expanding the Supreme Court, stressed the significance of checks and balances on the court’s power. She cautioned against an unchecked expansion of the court’s authority, warning that it could lead to undemocratic and potentially authoritarian outcomes.
In addition, various liberal scholars and intellectuals have also advocated for expanding the court. They argue that enlarging the court is essential to protect democratic values and ensure a fair and balanced judiciary. They urge Democratic candidates running for federal office to embrace the idea of expanding the court, asserting that failure to do so would result in disruptive consequences within American society.
Public opinion on the matter appears to be divided, with a majority of voters expressing opposition to expanding the Supreme Court to accommodate more justices. However, a significant number of Democrats support the idea of adding more justices, as revealed in surveys conducted by various independent research organizations.