[buffaloguy]

The supreme court, through legislation, was fixed at 9 seats in the late 1800s. It would take a huge effort to change that number.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The supreme court, through legislation, was fixed at 9 seats in the late 1800s. It would take a huge effort to change that number.

I would support an increase of the size of SCOTUS to eleven, via a constitutional amendment which would:

1. allow each newly inaugurated POTUS to name two justices to SCOTUS, subject to senate confirmation only if the nominees were not publicly named two months before Election Day. And,

2. require the senior (in time of service) justice(s) to retire as necessary to hold the number of justices down to 11.

The effect of allowing the size of SCOTUS to increase to eleven would be twofold:

1. it would mean that each two-term POTUS would name only 4/11, not 4/9, of SCOTUS, and

2. it would in the long run mean that each SCOTUS justice would serve a 22 year, not an 18 year, term.

That would IMHO be a reasonable arrangement. As matters now stand, we are in imminent danger of having a justice suffering from dementia and hanging on to office. Life expectancy increases being what they have been, there’s too much danger of people living long enough to get addled.

[Leaning Right]

> The supreme court, through legislation, was fixed at 9 seats in the late 1800s. It would take a huge effort to change that number. <

Twenty years ago i would have agreed with you. But not now. The Democrats have lurched far left. And they have demonized Republicans. So if the D’s take the House, the Senate, and the Presidency in 2020 (or whenever), they will attempt to pack the court.

It it would be easy. Pass a bill. The President signs it. Boom. Done. And the excuse for all that? Kavanaugh is a rapist. The nasty Republicans wouldn’t allow Garland to come up for a vote. Etc. Half the American public would cheer.

[I got the rope]

I thought it was set in 1940s by Roosevelt and the Dems.