Congressman Biggs’s Statement on U.S. House Vote to Permanently Set Supreme Court at Nine Justices

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass H.J. Res. 1, Congressman Andy Biggs's (AZ-05) proposed constitutional amendment to permanently establish the Supreme Court of the United States at nine justices.

Because H.J. Res. 1 proposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, passage required the support of two-thirds of the Members present and voting. All except one Democrat opposed this common-sense measure, demonstrating their resolve to expand the Court as soon as they regain the majority.

Congressman Biggs, the sponsor of the resolution, issued the following statement:

"For years now, Democrats have made their desire to pack the U.S. Supreme Court with liberal justices known. But don't be fooled - this desire doesn't stem from concern that the Court's workload is too high, or the nation has outgrown the Court. It stems only from a dissatisfaction that the Court hasn't rubber-stamped the blatantly unconstitutional, leftist, heavy-handed policies they want to impose on the American people.

"The Court has been set at nine justices for more than 150 years. In accordance with the Constitution, Justices are appointed by the sitting President at the time of a vacancy, and with the advice and consent of the Senate. But Ranking Member Raskin made clear in his remarks: he believes President Trump's ability to appoint two Justices who more closely adhere to the Constitution than the Justices replaced is simply unfair. In fact, he said the quiet part out loud, accusing President Trump of 'stealing' the two seats and calling it 'the rightwing capture of the Court.' This is a dangerous narrative that undermines the system established by the Founders and creates a slippery slope ending in the total decimation of the integrity of the Court.

"The reality is that when Democrats are unable to convince the American people of the validity of their own policies and capture the Presidency and majority in both chambers, they demand to change the rules of the game. Just look to the extreme ideas of the socialists being elected to Congress, calling for the transformation of the Court into one elected and subordinate to the legislature.

"It's a blessing and a miracle that our great nation celebrated 250 years of self-government. But allowing the Democrats to pack the Court is sure fire way to change the fundamental nature of our Republic and quickly devolve to the socialist dystopia they so badly desire."

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