Court Packing

CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY FEBRUARY 5, 2021

         THERE ARE REPORTS CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS WILL TRY TO PACK THE FEDERAL COURTS WITH LIBERAL JUDGES SO THEY CAN RAM THROUGH UNPOPULAR AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICIES.

         HERE’S A HISTORY LESSON FROM THE HISTORY.COM WEBSITE.

         EIGHTY-FOUR YEARS AGO THIS MONTH, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO EXPAND THE SUPREME COURT TO AS MANY AS 15 JUSTICES. HE WAS FRUSTRATED THAT CONGRESS WAS NOT PASSING NEW DEAL LEGISLATION FAST ENOUGH. ROOSEVELT WANTED TO REQUIRE JUSTICES TO RETIRE AT AGE 70 AND IF THEY DIDN’T A SO-CALLED “ASSISTANT” WITH FULL VOTING RIGHTS WOULD BE NAMED.

         IN JULY OF 1937, THE SENATE STRUCK DOWN THE IDEA BY A 70 TO 22 VOTE. ROOSEVELT EVENTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE ENOUGH JUSTICES, SO THAT BY 1942 ALL BUT TWO OF THE JUSTICES ON THE COURT WERE HIS APPOINTEES.

         IF DEMOCRATS DO THAT NOW IT WOULD RUIN THE CONSTITUTION AND THE COUNTRY, BUT I WOULDN’T PUT IT PAST THEM. THEY USE POWER WHEN THEY GET IT WHILE REPUBLICANS COWER IN FEAR OF THE MEDIA AND BEING CALLED NAMES. I’M CAL THOMAS.

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Cal Thomas