Vermont lawmakers call for reform in the US Supreme Court
Supporters of reform say the current Supreme Court structure does not represent modern-day America.
Supporters of reform say the current Supreme Court structure does not represent modern-day America.
Supporters of reform say the current Supreme Court structure does not represent modern-day America.
In Montpelier, lawmakers and “Just Majority” gathered outside the State House to call for reform in the United States Supreme Court. Supporters of reform say the current Supreme Court structure does not represent modern-day America.
"We have seen in the last few years a distortion of the rules in order to manipulate our Supreme Court into a majority of six that are really upending the standards of our society," said Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman.
Zuckerman cited the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson case, which overturned Roe v. Wade and left the power to the states to decide if abortions would remain legal.
"One of the decisions that is most well known is the Dobbs decision with respect to reproductive liberty and individual autonomy, and that is honestly just the tip of the iceberg," Zuckerman said.
Supporters of reform are calling for national legislation that would create four new positions in the Supreme Court and term limits. They say this will help create more diversity and allow the Supreme Court to consistently have fresh perspectives.
Vermont Sen. Peter Welch, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is in support of reform and sent the following statement to NBC5.
“The Supreme Court should be a protector of democracy. Instead, it’s become a threat. We must take action to restore trust in the supreme court and, in so doing, protect the future of our democracy. I support establishing term limits for the justices, and, in my role on the judiciary committee, will do all I can to mitigate the court’s increasingly ideological agenda and restore trust in the judicial branch," Welch said.
However, in Montpelier, Senate Minority Leader Republican Randy Brock believes drastic changes should not be made just because one side of the aisle isn’t happy with a result.
"If every time we have a Supreme Court decision with which we disagree, we decide to pack the court and expand it, can you imagine five or 10 years from now?" Brock said.
Zuckerman also said he plans to speak with Vermont’s national legislators next time he is in Washington, D.C., and hopes to get the ball rolling on the drafting of a bill.