A recent survey among readers of JC Bruce regarding the US Supreme Court showed that 60 percent of 429 respondents support expanding the court, while 32 percent prefer keeping the current nine-member structure. Regarding term limits, 99 percent of 403 voters expressed support for the measure.
Legislative efforts to fix the number of justices at nine have been ongoing. In January 2025, Representative Andy Biggs introduced a resolution for a constitutional amendment to make nine the permanent number of Supreme Court members, arguing it would protect the court's legitimacy.
Gabe Roth, executive director of the nonprofit Fix the Court, criticized both the expansion and the keep-nine positions as cynical. He advocates for legislation previously introduced by Representative Ro Khanna, which would limit Supreme Court service to 18 years and allow presidents to nominate one justice every two years.
Historical context from the post-Civil War era indicates that the Supreme Court size has fluctuated between six and ten justices. Experts suggest that Congress possesses various tools to ensure judicial accountability, such as the Habeas Corpus Act of 1867 and Section 1983, which were designed to safeguard constitutional rights.
Proposals for reform also include prohibiting members of Congress, the president, and Supreme Court justices from trading shares in companies affected by their official actions. Such a policy would include fines amounting to three times the size of any realized gains.
