Young signs on to constitutional amendment to retain 9 justices on U.S. High Court

U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) on Monday joined several Republican colleagues in proactively introducing a resolution that would retain nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, which has had nine seats since 1869.

“The Supreme Court is critical to our system of checks and balances and proposals that call for expanding the Court to further partisan goals are antithetical to American values,” said Sen. Young, referring to several Democratic 2020 presidential contenders who recently expressed an openness to expanding the number of High Court justices.

“Such efforts would irreparably harm our democracy and Americans’ faith in our institutions and I support this effort to reaffirm our commitment to the norms that have served us well for the past 150 years,” Sen. Young said.

Senate Joint Resolution (S.J.Res.) 14, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the Supreme Court be comprised of not more than nine justices, according to the congressional record summary. 

Among those joining Sen. Young in signing on to cosponsor S.J.Res. 14 are U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Steve Daines (R-MT).

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) also on March 25 introduced companion legislation, House Joint Resolution (H.J.Res.) 53, in his chamber. 

Sen. Rubio pointed out that the Democrats’ “court packing proposal” represents the latest short-sighted effort to undermine Americans’ confidence in their institutions and in the nation’s democracy. 

“America’s institutions are far from perfect. But over the past two centuries, they have provided a framework for our nation to become the most dynamic, most vibrant, and most exceptional nation in all of human history,” Sen. Rubio said. “Our institutions matter. Our Constitution matters. And we should fight to protect them.”

S.J.Res. 14 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, while H.J.Res. 53 is being reviewed by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.