Democrats to Introduce Legislation to Add Four New Supreme Court Justices

Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce legislation that would add four new seats to the Supreme Court. Senator Ed Markey, and Reps. Jerry Nadler, Hank Johnson and Mondaire Jones will hold a press conference to introduce the bill Thursday on the steps of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court can be expanded through Congress, though the Democrats' majorities are slim and many lawmakers oppose the idea; President Joe Biden has said he is "not a fan" of court-packing. This initiative comes after Biden last week signed an executive order establishing a bipartisan commission to look into possible changes to the Supreme Court’s membership, jurisdiction and lifetime terms and report back in six months. The move reflects a battle over the future of the court after former President Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices in four years, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell denied a vote in 2016 to former President Barack Obama's pick to fill a vacancy, citing an election year. The story received coverage across the political spectrum. Outlets from across the spectrum analyzed the bill's likelihood of passing.