For Immediate Release

TAKE BACK THE COURT APPLAUDS COURT EXPANSION LEGISLATION

Court expansion bill is essential for restoring democracy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 14, 2021) — Take Back the Court Director Aaron Belkin released the following statement on the announcement of court expansion legislation in the House and Senate. The legislation, which adds four seats to the Supreme Court, is led in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and in the House by Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04), Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-10), and Congressman Mondaire Jones (NY-17). Chairman Johnson is Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, Chairman Nadler is Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Jones is Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

“The introduction of this legislation to expand the Supreme Court, under the leadership of Senator Markey, Chairman Johnson, Chairman Nadler, and Congressman Jones, is a critical step toward saving American democracy. The Court’s conservative supermajority has led the charge in Republicans’ assault on voting. Unless we add seats, they will continue to green light voter suppression and dismantle efforts to protect Americans’ most fundamental rights.

Everything we care about is at risk if we don’t get this bill passed to expand the Court — from the vital democracy protections in HR1 to progress on climate change, racial justice, reproductive freedom, and more.

Democracies simply cannot function when only one side follows the rules. That’s why Take Back the Court is so proud to endorse this legislation that will rebalance the Court and restore faith in a broken judicial system.”

Take Back the Court raises awareness about the urgent need to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court to address the theft of the court by Senator Mitch McConnell during the Obama Administration. Without adding seats, Congress will not be able to restore the right to vote, ensure reproductive freedom, protect workers, halt our climate emergency, or pass new legislation. Court expansion, which can be accomplished without a constitutional amendment, is the only reform that enables the un-rigging of the system and the restoration of democracy. Learn more at https://www.takebackthecourt.today.