Human Rights & Public Liberties

Human Rights & Public Liberties

Newsletter
Published on: 13 Jan, 2021

The Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States

Published on: 19 May, 2021
Biden faced intense pressure during his 2020 campaign from progressives to endorse the idea of adding additional justices to the Supreme Court/Reuters.

Biden faced intense pressure during his 2020 campaign from progressives to endorse the idea of adding additional justices to the Supreme Court/Reuters.

The first meeting of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States, established by President Biden, takes place. He created a 36-member bipartisan commission on Apr 9 to study potential changes to the U.S. Supreme Court, fulfilling a promise he made on the campaign trail.

The commission will look at the public debate for and against Supreme Court reform. Biden faced intense pressure during his 2020 campaign from progressives to endorse the idea of adding additional justices to the Supreme Court. Progressives seethed as President Donald Trump added three justices, giving conservatives one of the most lopsided majorities in modern history at 6-3.

The panel’s to-do list includes exploring “the Court’s role in the Constitutional system; the membership and size of the Court; and the Court’s case selection, rules, and practices. But some see the topic of imposing term limits on what are currently life-long appointments as perhaps one of the most controversial issues. The meeting is open to the public with input requested.