Court-Packing Endorsed By Democratic Candidates

Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer has posted a video saying he is in favor of expanding the Supreme Court in order to nullify the judicial stranglehold now enjoyed by Conservatives. Two other Democratic presidential candidates, Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren, have indicated that they were open to expanding the Court. “Let’s remember why we have the Supreme Court we have,” Steyer told voters at a campaign stop. “It’s because Mitch McConnell refused to allow President Obama’s choice to ever be brought up” for a hearing and a confirmation vote. After Justice Scalia died in 2016, McConnell announced that he would not allow anyone President Obama nominated to be confirmed. Sen. Chuck Grassley, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, explained, “it’s been standard practice over the last 80 years to not confirm Supreme Court nominees during a presidential election year.” That claim appears to be entirely made up. At least 14 past justices were confirmed in a presidential election year — the most recent being Justice Anthony Kennedy in 1988.