Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are co-sponsoring a bill that aims to “revitalize” Congress’ ability to check Supreme Court decisions.
The Supreme Court Review Act, which was re-introduced in the Senate Sept. 25, aims to help lawmakers quickly respond to Supreme Court decisions, the senators said.
While Congress already has the ability to respond to Supreme Court decisions by clarifying laws, this bill would streamline that process and help lawmakers check “inaccurate interpretations” of federal law and restore rights taken away by the high court.
“The Supreme Court is making life-altering decisions threatening Americans’ reproductive freedom, workers’ bargaining power, voting rights, clean air, and so much more—Congress needs a process to quickly and effectively respond to Supreme Court decisions from these rogue MAGA justices,” Sen. Merkley said. “The Supreme Court Review Act is a great step to ensure that the highest court in our land serves ‘We the People’ not just the powerful.”
The Supreme Court Review Act would create a process for Congress to pass new laws through a supermajority and would be limited to recent court rulings. The bill would also ensure the Senate minority party has an opportunity to propose alternative updates to laws.
Expressing his support for the bill, Sen. Wyden criticized court “packing” by former President Donald Trump, who appointed three Supreme Court justices in his first term including Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, and Neil Gorsuch.
“With the help of Senate Republicans, Donald Trump spent his time in office packing our nation’s highest courts with right-wing extremists willing to do the bidding of special interests and legislate from the bench,” said Sen. Wyden. “America was founded on checks and balances, and it’s time to restore that balance by putting a much-needed check on a power-hungry Supreme Court.”
The legislation is led by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV.) In a press release, Sen. Whitehouse noted both political parties in Congress have exercised the power to respond to the Supreme Court’s decisions. He also highlighted a 2014 Yale study that found Congress responded legislatively to 275 Supreme Court cases between 1967 to 2011.
The bill comes after Sen. Wyden introduced a bill in late September that would bring fundamental changes to the high court.
Wyden’s Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act aims to restore balance among the three branches of government, increase transparency, and restore public trust in the Supreme Court as it faces a “legitimacy crisis.”
Among the changes, Wyden’s bill would expand the Supreme Court to 15 justices over three presidential terms, and the court would need a supermajority to overturn acts of Congress.
There are also several provisions in the bill that aim to restore trust and transparency in the high court — including making opinions available to the public and allowing justices to vote to recuse another justice from a case.
KOIN 6 News reached out to the Trump campaign but has not heard back. This story will be updated if we receive a response.
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