After a torrent of extremist decisions were made by far-right justices, progressives in Congress are calling on Congress to make significant reforms to Supreme Court. This is after a number of extreme decisions were made that threaten a wide variety of rights. Could jeopardize American democracy as a whole.
In a statement on Tuesday, Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) said that lawmakers have an “obligation to respond” to right-wing Supreme Court justices in the wake of decisions in cases like Dobbs v. Jackson, which restructured the country’s abortion rights.
This statement raises alarm at a number Supreme Court decisions made in the last few months. Some of these decisions overturned centuries-old precedents. The Supreme Court ruled last monthIn Boule v. EgbertFor example, federal law enforcement officials have immunity when they violate constitutional amendments within the 100 mile border zone. In April, the Supreme Court decidedIn an eight-to-one decision, Puerto Ricans are not entitled to the same disability benefits as residents of the United States.
Jayapal criticised the Court’s decisions protect public school employees’ability to get students to pray on school property. bar people on death rowWho received ineffective legal defense by presenting new evidence to prove innocence
She also listed recent rulings to protect police from being sued if they don’t read a person their Miranda rights, threaten tribal sovereignty by allowing statesTo prosecute Native American land crimes allow the CIAto prevent information about their torture methods being released. much more.
“The list of precedents nullified and democratic institutions and principles this Supreme Court gutted or fully overturned this term is horrifying,” Jayapal said. The lawmaker warned that the Court’s tirade isn’t done; the Supreme Court is Set to hear a caseThis could allow politicians to draw gerrymandered map, and Justice Clarence Thomas has saidThe next two items on the chopping table could be gay marriage and contraception accessibility.
“These extreme decisions are the result of a decades-long project to stack the bench with adherents to a right-wing agenda and overrule precedent and the will of the American people. The majority has made clear it has no concern for ethics,” Jayapal said, pointing out There are many Supreme Court justices allegedly lied during their confirmation proceedings about whether or not they’d uphold landmark precedents like Roe v. Wade.
The lawmaker ended by requesting that Congress pass several bills. The Judiciary Act would be the first. This would increase the value four seats to the Supreme Court to combat the GOP’s court packing. Second, she referred to the Supreme Court Ethics Recusal and Transparency Act. which wouldThe Supreme Court should be bound to a code and transparency standards regarding dark money and lobbying. Finally, she demanded the passage of the Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act. This would force justices to act. Justification for the decision to recuse or notThey will be exempted in all cases and prohibited from trading individual stocks.
“We do not have to simply accept the devastation of these rulings,” Jayapal said. “We must hold these rogue justices to account.”
