WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States will convene to discuss recommendations. Yesterday, the group released draft materials around initial findings that expressed some support for term limits for Justices, but punted on the issue of Supreme Court expansion. The commission will issue final recommendations in November. 

Stephany Spaulding, Just Democracy Spokesperson and Founder of Truth and Conciliation issued the following statement in response:

“The Presidential Supreme Court Commission is failing to read the writing on the wall: the Supreme Court has no hope of representing and protecting the American people in its current, ultra-conservative form. Because the commission is not empowered to make real recommendations, it punts on court expansion, but that effectively sides with the status quo, endangering the civil rights and livelihoods of Black and Brown people.

 

President Biden remains hesitant to embrace court expansion, but without it, his entire agenda and our democracy writ-large is at risk. After Sen. McConnell’s campaign to steal SCOTUS seats, the court now serves as an extension of the partisan, anti-democratic Republican agenda and does not reflect the will of the majority or any objectivity. Any progress Congress is able to make on voting rights, abortion access, gun violence prevention, and more, could quickly be overturned by the Supreme Court. 

 

Despite the broad, occasionally contradictory, and wishy-washy findings detailed in the materials, the commission was clear about one thing: Congress has the power to expand the court. The progressive movement knows this is the best path forward. We hope that during today’s convening, the commission takes a more clear-eyed look at the dangerous judiciary it is perpetuating with these recommendations.” 

Just Democracy is in partnership with Demand Justice and Take Back the Court, and we will join Demand Justice’s lobby day on October 27th to advocate for the Judiciary Act of 2021 to expand the Supreme Court.

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About Just Democracy

Just Democracy is an intersectional coalition with racial justice at its core — uplifting voices from all walks of American life that are too often left out of the conversation. The coalition is made up of over 40 Black and Brown-led organizations working across issue areas. It mobilizes thousands who know that advancing social and racial justice issues first requires bold structural democracy reform.

To speak with a Just Democracy spokesperson, please email press@justdemocracy.us