Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Wednesday urged the expansion of the Supreme Court with more justices, while taking aim at the “gravity of the Republican hijacking” of the court.
The argument to expand the the court needs to be based on Moscow Mitch’s theft of Obama’s choice. I don’t think arguing that we have to worry about rights is a winning argument.
In light of the norm-breaking and corrupt efforts by McConnell and the rest of them to stack that court, I think this is a strong argument. Their unfairly taken advantage should be eliminated. But just this once (haha) I’m going to go a bit off topic because other things are important, like simple decency and its return to the Executive Branch. This is a decent human being, and it does my heart good to see him demonstrating it, whether the district voted for him or not. He sees suffering and tries to help. That’s decency.
“With each move, the court shows why it’s important to restore America’s faith in an independent judiciary committed to the rule of law,” That ship done sailed with Bush v Gore and it ain’t returning to port anytime soon.
I’m sure Sen. Libertarian and Sen. AmericaCan’tAffordChildren told the President to go home and take his big-government, Uncle Sugar, FEMA handouts with him, because their KY constituents will pull themselves up by their own bootstraps just fine without him!
Of course, there will be no expansion of the Court while the Democrats’ hold on the Senate is only 50-50+VP Harris and their hold on the House is almost so razor-thin (and when two of the Democratic senators are Manchin and Sinema). But Court expansion must be the Democrats’ goal should the '22 midterms give them even a small net gain in the Senate and continuing control in the House, however narrow.
Do not discount the likelihood of even more outrageous SCOTUS rulings in the runup to the midterms–and not just striking down Roe. By the fall of '22, it will appear an existential necessity that the next Democratic-controlled Congress expand the Court by several more justices.
So good that Warren sets out this marker. And yes, the reason for this must be McConnell’s theft of a seat that Obama had every right to fill.
The last time the Court was expanded, in 1869, it was for highly justifiable political reasons–to protect Reconstruction, once U.S. Grant had replaced Andrew Johnson in the White House. We have to do this again, to preserve our democracy against the very real threat of a fascist dictatorship, enabled by the Trumper-dominated SCOTUS.
In 1869, when the SC was last expanded to nine members, the US Population was about 37 Million. Today it is 331 Million at least.
We need 21 “Justices” (all to be appointed immediately), with 20-year staggered appointments and one year as rotating Chief. Additionally, everyone who has served for more than twenty years must be retired immediately.
This also means we need 21 circuits (again, all to be appointed immediately). They must be in-filled somewhat with current appointees - in order of least seniority. Sadly, this will dilute and disburse Trump’s appointments somewhat.
I suggest graveyard-shift night traffic court in Northern Mariana Islands for all people who’ve served more than one year, and less than five.
I’m going to add to my own comment:
This theft was a betrayal of democracy only a step below Trump’s. It was overturning the will of the majority of voters, who had voted for Obama for him to select Supreme Court justices. A minority of one, Moscow Mitch, decided he would overturn the voters’ decision.
For this reason alone, Moscow Mitch should burn in Hell.
And that act also made selection of justices a game, which was clarified when Moscow rammed through Wife Barrett just before the election. Because it is now clear that who is on the court is just a game, Republicans have no grounds to complain no matter what Democrats do. Therefore, we should expand the court and ignore their baying.
I want to see 13 justices, four chosen by Biden.
Nice thought, but they’d be Supremely unqualified.
Need proof? Just re-watch their nomination hearings.
And I’ll add to my comment. YES!
No need to pack the Court. Just bribe them into retirement. Call it the Supreme Court Pension Act and appropriate $190 million payable as follows:
$50 million (tax-free) to the first justice to tender their immediate resignation. $40 million for the second. $30 million for the third. $20 million for the fourth. $10 million each for the final five. Offer expires in 30 days.
ETA: And all future justices get a $10 million tax-free pension benefit to help encourage regular turnover. Not payable in case of death or diagnosis of terminal disease while in office.
He should’ve told young Rylie, “I’m from the Federal Government, and I’m here to help.”
He should’ve told young Raylie, “I’m from the Federal Government, and I’m here to help.”
So good it had to be said twice! Second with proper spelling. 
That was my suggestion for what to do with the justices; station them in the Mariannas, but not on night court. Because the Mariannas are 14 hours off the DC time zone, make them do DC day court via Zoom.
Oh, and give them only a small travel budget. And for clerks, assign them only members of MS13 who’ve gotten their law degrees in prison.
v.o: "we now return to ‘subdural hematomas and pro wrestling: a love story’, already in ‘progress’.
In this case, I’m going to have to agree with Senator Warren. What McConnell and Trump did was corrupt.
I would not consider it court packing. I would consider it righting a wrong.
Keep going
That’s a shit-ton of beer money.