In recent months, the breathtaking radicalism and brazen corruption of the current Supreme Court has reignited the longstanding debate over reforming the Court by expanding the number of Justices.
Interesting bit of history. Few talk about the Sumners-McCarran Act of 1937. It enabled Supreme Court justices to get a pension. Van Devanter retired right after it took effect. The irony was that McCarran strongly opposed the court-packing plan, and earned FDR's ire for it, but he helped him get rid of some of the justices!
Excellent summary. Thank you. There is so much work to be done educating the public not only on how horrific a turn the Court has taken but that they can actually do something about it. I gently cautioned a democratic influencer on Instagram to not use the terms "pack the court" for what we need to do to unscrew what Roberts has screwed up. The other side has used language masterfully for too long to beat us with a stick (tough on crime, all lives matter, pro-life and anti-woke). I like your use of UNpack the court. It sets the narrative on what they have already done.
My view is that the number of Justices on the Supreme Court should be expanded to equal the number of appellate districts currently plus the Appellate Court for the District of Columbia. IIRC that would be twelve. In the past, each SC Justice had to actually go to the district that he was responsible for and hear cases. Could you imagine these Justices doing that?
Interesting bit of history. Few talk about the Sumners-McCarran Act of 1937. It enabled Supreme Court justices to get a pension. Van Devanter retired right after it took effect. The irony was that McCarran strongly opposed the court-packing plan, and earned FDR's ire for it, but he helped him get rid of some of the justices!
That was passed not long after FDR's announcement, right? I don't know anything about the legislative history behind it.
Yes.
Excellent summary. Thank you. There is so much work to be done educating the public not only on how horrific a turn the Court has taken but that they can actually do something about it. I gently cautioned a democratic influencer on Instagram to not use the terms "pack the court" for what we need to do to unscrew what Roberts has screwed up. The other side has used language masterfully for too long to beat us with a stick (tough on crime, all lives matter, pro-life and anti-woke). I like your use of UNpack the court. It sets the narrative on what they have already done.
My view is that the number of Justices on the Supreme Court should be expanded to equal the number of appellate districts currently plus the Appellate Court for the District of Columbia. IIRC that would be twelve. In the past, each SC Justice had to actually go to the district that he was responsible for and hear cases. Could you imagine these Justices doing that?