The Supreme Court Needs Fixing, But How?
New YorkerJUL 26 2024
US Supreme Court Appointments
Above: Official 2022 portrait at the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court building. Image copyright: Alex Wong/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Democrats are using the term "reform" as a trojan horse to impose their will on the country through term limits and other changes they want to make to SCOTUS because their woke ideology is incompatible with the Constitution. Wealthy progressives control virtually every other American institution — most notably the media — but the judiciary is not for sale and shouldn't be altered by those with an unconstitutional political agenda.
Democratic narrative
SCOTUS has become a Republican proxy, furthering its agenda by restricting the rights of women and refusing to hold former Pres. Donald Trump accountable for his attempts to subvert democracy. It's clearer than ever that SCOTUS reform is necessary to return the judiciary to a more impartial place — allowing separation of powers and the Constitution to once again protect and expand American freedom and civil liberties.
Cynical narrative
Both parties manipulate SCOTUS to serve their own interests. Democrats push for reforms like term limits and ethics rules, not out of principle, but to weaken the conservative majority. Meanwhile, Republicans shamelessly blocked nominees and pushed through their own, prioritizing political gains over judicial integrity. The court, once a pillar of neutrality, has become a partisan battleground in American politics.