In remarks at a judicial conference, Roberts bemoaned what he characterized as the American public’s misconceptions about the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday defended the Supreme Court from what he believes are misconceptions held by the American people that he and his colleagues are “political actors” who are making decisions based on policy, not law.
Roberts is a member of the court’s 6-3 conservative majority, which has moved federal law to the right on a number of weighty issues in recent years, such as abortion and gun rights.
The court has also in several cases weakened the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, including in a ruling last week that led to outrage and disappointment on the left.
With 9 justices, that’s a new justice appointed every ~7 months. Are you sure Trump should be putting 7 people on a 9-seat court right before that court will be hearing issues related to the next presidential election?
I know I think they definitely need to expand the court out as well because there’s not nearly enough justices to actually make a difference with the way the supreme Court works. But shortening the term significantly and only making it set to one term is quite a significant thing.
I feel you didn’t address my point.
No matter the size of the court, on 5-year terms, the president will be replacing 20% of the court each year. At the end of his first, 4-year presidential term, he’s replaced 80% of the court.
Every presidential election I can remember has involved some sort of challenge in the courts, and many of those challenges have been elevated to SCOTUS. With your 5-year plan, every SCOTUS decision relating to presidential elections will be made by a court consisting of 80% to 100% of appointees made by the incumbent president.
Why would we want this situation to exist?