On Wednesday, news broke that House and Senate Democrats were preparing legislation to add four new justices, which would amount to court-packing.
Immediately, Republican leaders bashed the claims, calling it “arrogant lawlessness.” Utah Senator Mike Lee said “Packing the court is an act of arrogant lawlessness. Those behind this effort spit in the face of judicial independence.”
Packing the court is an act of arrogant lawlessness. Those behind this effort spit in the face of judicial independence.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 15, 2021
In a Tweet, Senator Tom Cotton (AK) said “Packing the Supreme Court would destroy the Supreme Court. The Democrats will do anything for power.”
Packing the Supreme Court would destroy the Supreme Court.
The Democrats will do anything for power.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) April 15, 2021
“The moderate left is gone. This is who they are now. Open borders. Outlawing voter ID. Free healthcare for illegal migrants. And now court-packing. This should be roundly rejected,” said Mark Meadows, former Trump Cheif Of Staff.
The moderate left is gone.
This is who they are now. Open borders. Outlawing voter ID. Free healthcare for illegal migrants. And now court-packing.
This should be roundly rejected. https://t.co/Y3qtlUzB8b
— Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) April 14, 2021
One of the most notable objections to court-packing comes from Biden’s 1983 response to FDR’s attempt to pack the court a “bonehead idea.” Biden went on to say “It was a terrible, terrible mistake to make, and it put in question there for an entire decade the independence of THE most significant body…in this country.”
1983: Sen. @JoeBiden calls FDR’s attempt to pack the Supreme Court a “bonehead idea.”
“It was a terrible, terrible mistake to make, and it put in question there for an entire decade the independence of THE most significant body… in this country.” pic.twitter.com/MEPu0fMRG4
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 9, 2021
Biden was, in 1983, referring to Roosevelt’s proposed “Judicial Procedures Reform Bill” of 1937. This bill would allow the President to appoint a 6th justice to the court.
