Rebalancing the Supreme Court is Necessary to Protect Our Democracy
Jump to today’s actions:
Background
The Supreme Court is broken and needs to be fixed. Fueled by dark money groups, its ultra-conservative, illegitimately achieved supermajority gutted the Voting Rights Act, condoned gerrymandering, sided with corporate special interests, and threatened to derail urgently needed democratic reforms and responses to structural inequalities.
To protect our democracy and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard equally, the Court must be rebalanced. The Judiciary Act of 2021 does just that, changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, which equals the number of circuits. Equating the two is consistent with both the Court’s organization in 1789 and the last of the seven reorganizations in 1869, when the number was set at 9.
This rebalancing is even more important given the GOP’s theft of two seats that, under Senate norms, should have been filled by Obama and Biden.
Allowing President Biden to name four diverse, forward-thinking jurists will democratize the Court, help restore its legitimacy, and protect the legislation that protects both our civil rights and our democracy.
We must educate our MoCs about this bill’s necessity, urging them to become cosponsors and to amplify their support for its rebalancing--reminding them that, here too, success requires elimination of the filibuster.
1. Call the Senate.
Script Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Supreme Court is broken and needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (S.1141), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will rebalance the Court and eliminate the present ultra-conservative, illegitimately achieved supermajority that has gutted the Voting Rights Act, condoned gerrymandering, sided with corporate special interests, and threatens to derail urgently needed democratic reforms and responses to structural inequalities. I urge the Senator to cosponsor S.1141 and publicly amplify its role in protecting the legislation that protects both our civil rights and our democracy. I recognize that passage will also require the filibuster’s elimination, which I support.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Supreme Court is broken and needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (S.1141), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will rebalance the Court and eliminate the present ultra-conservative, illegitimately achieved supermajority that has gutted the Voting Rights Act, condoned gerrymandering, sided with corporate special interests, and threatens to derail urgently needed democratic reforms and responses to structural inequalities. I urge the Senator to cosponsor S.1141 and publicly amplify its role in protecting the legislation that protects both our civil rights and our democracy. I recognize that passage will also require the filibuster’s elimination, which I support.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The Supreme Court needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (S.1141), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will allow the Court to keep up with the burgeoning caseloads resulting from the tenfold population increase since the last court expansion 150 years ago. It will also make possible effective Supreme Court supervision of the circuit courts by allowing each of the 13 circuits to be assigned one Justice, as has been the norm in the past. I urge the Senator to support S.1141.
2. Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Supreme Court is broken and needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (HR.2584), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will rebalance the Court and eliminate the present ultra-conservative, illegitimately achieved supermajority that has gutted the Voting Rights Act, condoned gerrymandering, sided with corporate special interests. I urge the Representative to co-sponsor S.1141 and publicly amplify its role in protecting the legislation that protects both our civil rights and our democracy.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Supreme Court needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (HR.2584), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will allow the Court to keep up with the burgeoning caseloads resulting from the tenfold population increase since the last court expansion 150 years ago. It will also make possible effective Supreme Court supervision of the circuit courts by allowing each of the 13 circuits to be assigned one Justice, as has been the norm in the past. I urge the Representative to support HR.2584.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Supreme Court is broken and needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (HR.2584), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will rebalance the Court and eliminate the present ultra-conservative, illegitimately achieved supermajority that has gutted the Voting Rights Act, condoned gerrymandering, sided with corporate special interests. I urge the Representative to co-sponsor S.1141 and publicly amplify its role in protecting the legislation that protects both our civil rights and our democracy.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Supreme Court is broken and needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (HR.2584), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will rebalance the Court and eliminate the present ultra-conservative, illegitimately achieved supermajority that has gutted the Voting Rights Act, condoned gerrymandering, sided with corporate special interests. I urge the Representative to co-sponsor S.1141 and publicly amplify its role in protecting the legislation that protects both our civil rights and our democracy.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Supreme Court is broken and needs to be fixed. The Judiciary Act of 2021 (HR.2584), by changing the number of justices from 9 to 13, will rebalance the Court and eliminate the present ultra-conservative, illegitimately achieved supermajority that has gutted the Voting Rights Act, condoned gerrymandering, sided with corporate special interests. I urge the Representative to co-sponsor S.1141 and publicly amplify its role in protecting the legislation that protects both our civil rights and our democracy.
