Harris Champions Supreme Court Growth to Thirteen Members
Nashville Conference Remarks
Qwenews.com – During the National Urban League’s yearly gathering in Nashville, the former vice president voiced support for increasing the number of Supreme Court justices to thirteen. This proposal has gained traction among Democratic lawmakers seeking judicial reform. Harris emphasized the parallel between the court and the federal judiciary’s structure, noting that thirteen district courts already exist.
We need to revisit the point of expanding the court to 13 justices like we have 13 district courts.
Alongside her court expansion comments, Harris advocated for examining the Electoral College system and granting statehood to both Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. The Department of Justice confirms that the federal judiciary comprises ninety-four district courts alongside thirteen circuit courts.
Political Context and Evolution
Her statements reflect a more definitive stance compared to her 2020 presidential campaign, when she described herself as merely open to discussing court expansion. At that time, she supported President Joe Biden’s term limits proposal, which stopped short of adding justices. Currently, six of the nine sitting justices received their appointments from Republican presidents, with three selected during Donald Trump’s presidency.
These remarks arrive as potential 2028 presidential hopefuls prepare to advance institutional reforms following Trump’s departure from the White House. Harris recently echoed similar sentiments in a conversation with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, stating she firmly believes the nation should explore growing the court’s membership and supports the thirteen-justice model.
Other Democratic Voices on Court Reform
Several prominent Democrats have championed judicial expansion over the years. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg advocated for a fifteen-justice court during his 2020 presidential run. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has consistently supported adding additional justices to the bench.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has traditionally expressed caution about increasing the court’s size. However, in a recent interview with progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, who favors court expansion, Newsom indicated he is becoming more receptive to the concept.
This report has been revised to include supplementary information.
