A dumb idea. When Roosevelt tried to pack the courts (his own party and lack of public support shot it down) it was pointed out that more justices would start making decision-making more difficult and it would take much more time.
The problem with the "senior status" after "only" 18 years, combined with increasing longevity (if we can keep it!) is, how many of these judges will we be paying a (senior) salary for, and for how long? Maybe there should be a limit on that status, also. If there is an 18-year limit, will that encourage presidents to appoint older judges rather than younger ones? What if yes and all the senior ones die? I guess we'd figure it out, one way or another.
Here's a thought REDUCE the number of Justices to 6 so that three judges, with the most seniority would have to retire. That would be Alito, Thomas, and Roberts. That would balance the Court until 2029 when Congress can raise the court to 13 with (one hopes) a Democratic president nominating the new members.
Jurisdiction Stripping! Just keep the court from ruling on laws as to whether or not they are constituional! It is what is done in Canada. The High Court advises Commons if a law violates the Basic Charter of fundamental rights, and how to fix the law. Doesn’t that make more sense then having the Alliance Defending Freedom or the Beckett fund finding a party to a tort who has standing, and bankrolling the party through thousands of dollars of court fees. (By the way, how about allowing parties to represent themselves before the Supreme Court, without lawyers, for more than an hour? Fuck the ACLU, the ACLJ, and the foundational ambulance chasers. And allow parties free access to the internet and to uploading youtube videos regarding their case.
I think No More McConnells should also include a formal recognition that if a sitting Senator or House member is unable to complete the duties of office due to health reasons for a period of time - and by that I mean the bare minimum of "show up to DC even if it's to vote present instead of yes/no" - the seat automatically is considered vacant. That period of time could be generous, such as six months to a year. If someone is so sick they can't even leave the hospital, how the fuck are they supposed to perform their job?
Their term of office should be limited to 13 years. And no one over 75. Actually, I think they should live a cloistered life, like monks. No hanging out with billionaires.
What has stopped Trump and Johnson from simply adding their own Justices? Could they manage some fuckery before the new Congress takes their seats (assuming we win)?
Ta, Dok. I've been saying this for what feels like forever: 13 circuits, 13 justices. The Roberts court is the Taney court 2.0. John Roberts has hated that people other than white Christian male landowners get to vote since he was young, and that was long ago.
Clyburn's math is off -- 13 is too few. There are 6 conservatives on the Court who clearly love fascism more than the Constitution, so adding 4 (to get to 13) would leave it at 7-6, meaning that any single defector could change an outcome. Or, if any one of those 7 were to die during a future Republican presidency (hey -- it COULD happen!) ... or ... oh, just go watch The Pelican Brief again.
Bottom line: It needs to be at least 15, not 13. Also, a disturbingly high % of people, esp. Americans, are deeply superstitious...
Also, they should be selected from among the ranks of prominent law school professors who are deeply attached to the Constitution and won't be inclined to brush it aside (or outright shit on it) for the convenience of fascists...
A dumb idea. When Roosevelt tried to pack the courts (his own party and lack of public support shot it down) it was pointed out that more justices would start making decision-making more difficult and it would take much more time.
The code of ethics is a good idea, but it has to apply retroactively.
Yes, expand the Supreme Court, expand the House of Representatives, too, but no term limits. Term limits always do more harm than good.
While we’re putting ideas on the table:
Statehood for DC and all of our territories and proportional representation in the Senate.
The problem with the "senior status" after "only" 18 years, combined with increasing longevity (if we can keep it!) is, how many of these judges will we be paying a (senior) salary for, and for how long? Maybe there should be a limit on that status, also. If there is an 18-year limit, will that encourage presidents to appoint older judges rather than younger ones? What if yes and all the senior ones die? I guess we'd figure it out, one way or another.
I'd call it "Jesus and the Dozen"!
If we go to 11, it's a "banker's dozen"
Here's a thought REDUCE the number of Justices to 6 so that three judges, with the most seniority would have to retire. That would be Alito, Thomas, and Roberts. That would balance the Court until 2029 when Congress can raise the court to 13 with (one hopes) a Democratic president nominating the new members.
Jurisdiction Stripping! Just keep the court from ruling on laws as to whether or not they are constituional! It is what is done in Canada. The High Court advises Commons if a law violates the Basic Charter of fundamental rights, and how to fix the law. Doesn’t that make more sense then having the Alliance Defending Freedom or the Beckett fund finding a party to a tort who has standing, and bankrolling the party through thousands of dollars of court fees. (By the way, how about allowing parties to represent themselves before the Supreme Court, without lawyers, for more than an hour? Fuck the ACLU, the ACLJ, and the foundational ambulance chasers. And allow parties free access to the internet and to uploading youtube videos regarding their case.
I think No More McConnells should also include a formal recognition that if a sitting Senator or House member is unable to complete the duties of office due to health reasons for a period of time - and by that I mean the bare minimum of "show up to DC even if it's to vote present instead of yes/no" - the seat automatically is considered vacant. That period of time could be generous, such as six months to a year. If someone is so sick they can't even leave the hospital, how the fuck are they supposed to perform their job?
This Court is illegitimate.
Their term of office should be limited to 13 years. And no one over 75. Actually, I think they should live a cloistered life, like monks. No hanging out with billionaires.
I want 4 extra justices, but mostly, I want the next president to make Sotomayor the Chief Justice.
What has stopped Trump and Johnson from simply adding their own Justices? Could they manage some fuckery before the new Congress takes their seats (assuming we win)?
They would have to nuke the filibuster first. And the filibuster on the whole benefits Republicans more than Democrats.
Ta, Dok. I've been saying this for what feels like forever: 13 circuits, 13 justices. The Roberts court is the Taney court 2.0. John Roberts has hated that people other than white Christian male landowners get to vote since he was young, and that was long ago.
Clyburn's math is off -- 13 is too few. There are 6 conservatives on the Court who clearly love fascism more than the Constitution, so adding 4 (to get to 13) would leave it at 7-6, meaning that any single defector could change an outcome. Or, if any one of those 7 were to die during a future Republican presidency (hey -- it COULD happen!) ... or ... oh, just go watch The Pelican Brief again.
Bottom line: It needs to be at least 15, not 13. Also, a disturbingly high % of people, esp. Americans, are deeply superstitious...
Also, they should be selected from among the ranks of prominent law school professors who are deeply attached to the Constitution and won't be inclined to brush it aside (or outright shit on it) for the convenience of fascists...
i'm a fan of appointing a new Chief Justice even if the last one isn't dead yet.