Ian Patrick, FISM News
On Friday April 9, President Biden signed another executive order which established a Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States. A statement released before the official executive order details what this Commission will do:
The Commission’s purpose is to provide an analysis of the principal arguments in the contemporary public debate for and against Supreme Court reform, including an appraisal of the merits and legality of particular reform proposals. The topics it will examine include the genesis of the reform debate; the Court’s role in the Constitutional system; the length of service and turnover of justices on the Court; the membership and size of the Court; and the Court’s case selection, rules, and practices.
It will be composed of 36 members appointed by the President, which include “distinguished constitutional scholars, retired members of the Federal judiciary, or other individuals having experience with and knowledge of the Federal judiciary and the Supreme Court of the United States.” The Commission will have 180 days after publically meeting to submit a report to Biden.
Discourse over “packing” the Supreme Court with more justices was a big talking point in the 2020 Presidential Debates, with President Trump often challenging Biden on where he stands on the issue. Biden would often dodge the question or give an indirect answer and then point the conversation back to talking about Trump.
Other media, especially those that lean towards the political left, argue that the Commission’s job will be to “balance the conservative majority” in the Court.
Breaking News: President Biden will create a panel to study expanding the Supreme Court in an effort to balance the conservative majority created by Donald Trump. https://t.co/uXBSCZpdu6
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 9, 2021
The Agenda review: why Biden must expand the supreme court – fast https://t.co/ivxpXI1GkF
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 11, 2021