History

Court Reform Across Generations Supreme Court reform isn’t a new idea invented by frustrated progressives. It’s a recurring response to judicial overreach that spans American history. 1937: FDR’s court-packing plan threatened to add up to six justices to break conservative obstruction of New Deal programs. The plan failed legislatively but succeeded politically—the Court reversed course. 1960s-70s: Conservative frustration with Warren Court civil rights decisions led to calls for impeachment, jurisdiction stripping, and constitutional amendments. 2020s: Progressive proposals for term limits, court expansion, ethics codes, and jurisdiction stripping respond to the Federalist Society’s capture of the Court. ...

Court Reform Is American Tradition Throughout American history, when the Supreme Court has overreached, threatened democracy, or blocked necessary reforms, presidents and Congress have acted to check judicial power. Thomas Jefferson led the impeachment of Justice Samuel Chase and refused to enforce certain court orders. Abraham Lincoln defied the Dred Scott decision and appointed five new justices to ensure the Court would uphold Civil War measures. Franklin Roosevelt threatened court-packing in 1937, forcing the Court to reverse course and uphold New Deal legislation. ...