The latest rulings by the Supreme Court felt like a punch in the gut to so many of us who have been fighting for healthier, cleaner communities for today and in the future.
The Supreme Court’s decisions to dismantle protections for clean air, reproductive justice and access to abortion, freedom of religion in schools, and reasonable gun regulation have left millions of Americans uncertain and fearing for their safety as the country moves to a radically more conservative future.
In these times, it can be infuriating and saddening to see the hard work and progress of generations destroyed by an institution that is now clearly under strong partisan influence and can no longer be considered neutral. Further, Supreme Court justices are not elected, and those members serve life-long terms and ought to be above political gamesmanship.
Restoring trust in the Court
Recent polling shows that most Americans doubt the legitimacy of the Supreme Court like never before: down to 25% according to a poll by Gallup. When our nation’s highest court is overtaken by political appointees with an unconstitutional, far right-wing agenda that endangers our safety and takes away our fundamental freedoms, we must fight to restore balance.
One idea to ensure the Supreme Court upholds the Constitution and the fundamental freedoms of all Americans is to expand the supreme court. The Judiciary Act, introduced in 2021, would add four new seats to the Supreme Court, bringing the number of justices to 13. The move would help restore balance to a Court that Mitch McConnell spent years in the Senate packing with extremists who are dismantling our fundamental freedoms.
Expanding the Supreme Court has been done before. Congress has already changed the Supreme Court’s size seven times in our nation’s history. Congress must do it once more to protect our fundamental freedoms and restore balance to the Court. We live today with the most radically conservative Supreme Court since its inception, one whose recent rulings have paved the way for extreme views on women’s reproductive health, access to guns, unchecked pollution, and more to spread. Congress must take decisive action to amend the situation.
But there’s still hope. More Americans than ever are aware of the Judicial branch and the dangers it can pose to health, humanity, and safety if left controlled by radical conservatives. Everywhere, and especially here in Georgia, we must vote for Congressional Representatives, Senators and Presidents that will listen to the will of the American people and act decisively.
Recent Major Activities around the Supreme Court
June 23, 2022 – New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen, Superintendent of New York State Police. 6-3 Conservative Ruling throwing out lower court rulings upholding gun restrictions.
June 24, 2022 – Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. 6-3 Conservative Ruling effectively overturning Roe v. Wade and rejecting abortion as a Constitutional right.
June 27, 2022 – Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. 6-3 Conservative Ruling effectively permitting Christian activism in public schools.
June 30, 2022 – West Virginia v. EPA. 6-3 Conservative Ruling limiting the ability of Government agencies like the EPA to oversee and regulate pollution in the United States.
June 30, 2022 – Justice Stephen Breyer retires. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as 104th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.