Biden Supreme Court study panel unanimously approves final report

[Polybius]

A bipartisan commission tasked by the White House with exploring possible Supreme Court reforms voted unanimously Tuesday to submit the group’s final report to President Biden.

The 34-member group sounded a neutral tone across its report's nearly 300 pages, referencing “profound disagreement” over a controversial proposal to expand the number of justices, for instance, while declining to adopt a position.

Instead, the study traces the history of the court reform debate and delineates arguments for and against various proposals, occasionally noting areas of bipartisan support, as in the case of imposing term limits on the justices.

The findings, which bear the imprimatur of some of the nation’s foremost constitutional thinkers and court watchers, are likely to shape the contours of future debates over proposals such as limiting the Supreme Court's jurisdiction and providing Congress special authority to override decisions.

Read more...

Yeah, looks like we're staying at 9 forever...

[NoRethugFriends]

1. What a friggin waste of time. Big surprise. (nt)

[Calista241]

2. As if Manchin would vote to increase the number of justices anyway. n/t

[Polybius]

3. He would probably say this:

"We can increase it by four, but Republicans must pick two to be fair."

[Celerity]

7. lol

so true!

[BradAllison]

10. Should that have anything to do with the findings?

I didn't know the commission's directive was to make a proposal that would please Joe Mansion.

[Takket]

4. They could have unanimously called for expansion and it still had 0 chance

It is hopelessly trapped behind the filibuster.

[Celerity]

8. perhaps along with our 2022/2024 electoral chances, if Manchin/Sinema don't allow a carve-out for

the voter protection/rights bills

It is hopelessly trapped behind the filibuster.

[VarryOn]

5. Apart from the US Constitution and the Nicene Creed...

Little else great has been done by a damn committee.

[notinkansas]

6. Especially this one.

Did Biden appoint this committee? To give him cover for doing nothing about the court?

[CrispyQ]

9. One clever DUer suggested we cut the court back to the original six & get rid of the last three.

Would that be "originalist" enough for you, Justice Barrett? LOL. Republicans certainly wouldn't expect that move!

[Polybius]

12. The poster wasn't so clever after all

While we can reduce it to 6, it would have to gradually drop down when a Justices retires or dies. They are they for life.

[Johonny]

11. Conservatives will game the courts like they game voting

The democracy is slowly fading.

[W_HAMILTON]

13. Stop being so pessimistic.

Vote in just a few more (two? three? four?) Democrats that are willing to abolish the filibuster and you also have enough to add additional Supreme Court Justices. It is very much accomplishable.

[Polybius]

14. I don't know

FDR couldn't even do it. I'd like 60 votes so we don't have to axe the filibuster, but picking up 10 seats is too much to ask for.