A new bill introduced in the Senate seeks to dramatically reshape the structure and operations of the United States Supreme Court.
DC News Now reports that Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has put forward the Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act, a comprehensive proposal that includes provisions to expand the number of justices, implement new transparency measures, and alter the court's operational procedures.
The proposed legislation comes in response to what Wyden describes as a "legitimacy crisis" facing the Supreme Court. While acknowledging the bill's slim chances of passing in its entirety, the senator hopes that some elements of the proposal will eventually be implemented to bring about changes in the court's functioning.
One of the most significant changes proposed in Wyden's bill is the expansion of the Supreme Court from nine to fifteen justices. This increase would be gradual, occurring over the course of three presidential terms.
The legislation outlines a new appointment process, allowing the president to nominate a justice in the first and third years of each term. To prevent prolonged vacancies, the bill includes a provision for automatic scheduling of a vote if no significant action is taken within 180 days of a nomination.
Additionally, the bill proposes to reinstate the practice of assigning a justice to oversee each circuit court. It also suggests creating a new Southwestern Circuit and splitting the Ninth Circuit, effectively expanding the number of circuit courts.
Senator Wyden's bill places a strong emphasis on increasing transparency within the Supreme Court. One notable provision requires the Internal Revenue Service to audit and publicly release the income tax returns of all Supreme Court justices.
The proposed legislation also aims to make the court's opinions more accessible to the public. Furthermore, it would grant justices the authority to vote on recusing a fellow justice from a case, potentially addressing concerns about conflicts of interest.
Wyden expressed his motivation for the bill, stating:
The Supreme Court is in crisis and bold solutions are necessary to restore the public trust. More transparency, more accountability and more checks on a power hungry Supreme Court are just what the American people are asking for.
The Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act includes measures designed to rebalance power among the three branches of government. One significant proposal would require a supermajority of justices to overturn acts of Congress, potentially limiting the court's ability to strike down legislation.
The bill also seeks to modernize court operations and improve access to justice for Americans. While specific details of these modernization efforts are not fully outlined, they appear to be part of Wyden's broader vision for court reform.
The introduction of this bill follows recent controversies surrounding the Supreme Court, including concerns about ethical standards and transparency. Notably, Wyden has been involved in investigating undisclosed luxury trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas with a GOP donor.
Senator Ron Wyden's Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act proposes significant changes to the Supreme Court's structure and operations. The bill calls for expanding the court to fifteen justices, implementing new transparency measures, including public disclosure of justices' tax returns, and altering appointment processes and voting requirements. While the legislation faces significant hurdles to passage, it represents a bold attempt to address perceived issues of legitimacy and transparency in the nation's highest court.
