Democratic lawmakers are actively pursuing reforms aimed at reshaping the Supreme Court, seeking to mitigate partisan politics and curb judicial power. These proposals come as concerns grow about the court's perceived political leanings, despite denials from conservative justices.
Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking in May, addressed the perception that the court makes policy decisions rather than strictly interpreting law. "I think, at a very basic level, people think we’re making policy decisions, we’re saying we think this is how things should be, as opposed to what the law provides," Roberts stated. "I think they view us as purely political actors, which I don’t think is an accurate understanding of what we do."
Despite these remarks, various Democratic initiatives to revamp the court are ongoing. One area of discussion involves the court's size. The U.S. Constitution does not specify the number of justices, and the court's composition has changed throughout history, ranging from five to ten justices. However, the number has remained fixed at nine since 1869. Efforts by Republicans to permanently legislate a nine-justice limit have encountered initial obstacles.