WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today will introduce a constitutional amendment that would prevent court packing by capping the size of the Supreme Court at nine justices. The amendment, which was co-sponsored by Reps. Chris Jacobs (R-NY), Ken Buck (R-CO), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), comes after President Biden announced he would create a commission that would explore court packing and other reforms to the Supreme Court.
“We don’t need a commission to know court packing is a radical idea that would undermine confidence in one of our country’s most important — and trusted — institutions,” said Rep. Gallagher. “The Supreme Court has been comprised of nine justices for more than 150 years, and it’s time we amend the Constitution to make this longstanding precedent permanent before it’s too late.”
The Supreme Court has been composed of no more than nine justices since 1869. The concept of expanding the court beyond nine justices has been opposed not only by conservatives, but also by Justice Stephen Breyer, former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
Click HERE for text of the amendment.