Congress has actually done that before (link)

From the link below:

After the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination, Congress clashed with Lincoln’s successor, Andrew Johnson, who was rapidly undoing the “Radical Republicans’” plan for Reconstruction. To limit Johnson’s power, Congress passed legislation in 1866 that cut the number of Supreme Court justices back to seven, all but assuring that Johnson wouldn’t have the opportunity to fill a vacant seat.

The last time Congress changed the number of Supreme Court justices was in 1869, again to meet a political end. Ulysses S. Grant was elected president in 1868 with the backing of the congressional Republicans who had hated Johnson. As a gift to Grant, Congress increased the number of justices from seven back to nine, and Grant gamely used those picks.

(In response to this post by JohnHoo2)

Link: History.com

Posted: 10/27/2020 at 10:52AM

PREV NEXT REPLY

Insert a Link

Enter the title of the link here:

Enter the full web address of the link here -- include the "http://" part:

Current Thread:

Turns out Republicans are down with packing STATE supreme courts -- southdenverhoo 10/27/2020 09:25AM

As usual, they bring their AR-15s to an arm wrestling match. Dems need a -- WahooRQ 10/27/2020 11:07AM

If the GOP messes with Roe v Wade in any way, they are playing with fire. -- Blah 10/27/2020 10:33AM

"Pro-life"/"pro-choice" is pretty stable by gender, surprisingly -- hoodeyo 10/27/2020 11:23AM

Well, apparently the norm now is, if it's not unconstitutional, do it. I -- Hoo TV 10/27/2020 10:32AM

GOP basically has said that SC would only be filled now if President and -- JohnHoo2 10/27/2020 10:48AM

Bingo. ** -- Hoobedoobedoo 10/27/2020 10:27AM

Was just thinking about it last night, what happen if Congress reduces -- JohnHoo2 10/27/2020 10:09AM

Congress has actually done that before (link) -- Hoo TV 10/27/2020 10:52AM

They wouldn’t be nullified. And the next most likely retirement is Breyer. ** -- CT Wahoo 10/27/2020 10:11AM

At State levels, significant variances have occurred which is not -- Hoos Operator 10/27/2020 10:06AM

Well, apparently one of them is capitalized. ** -- Hoogle.com 10/27/2020 10:01AM

None. They are proven hypocrites. Dems should ignore their bad faith. ** -- WahooMatt05 10/27/2020 09:48AM

There’s an interesting series of op-eds in today’s NYT on what to do about -- SixerHoo 10/27/2020 09:28AM

The system is broken. -- DanTheFan 10/27/2020 09:36AM

Are you familiar with Harry Reid? ** -- Ied 10/27/2020 12:04PM

Term limits aren't the worst idea -- Beerman 10/27/2020 10:27AM

Hmm. Who blocked Bush’s nominees for almost 2 yrs? Oh right McConnell ** -- TpkeHoo 10/27/2020 09:45AM

I think the key word here is McConnell -- Oregon Hoo 10/27/2020 09:56AM

I'm not giving them a penny until they cut that moron David Brooks loose. -- southdenverhoo 10/27/2020 09:32AM

I share at least some of your irritation with Brooks. -- SchmHoo 10/27/2020 10:05AM

That's it. Until I read it I thought it was just me... ** -- southdenverhoo 10/27/2020 10:23AM

What’s your beef with Brooks? ** -- SixerHoo 10/27/2020 09:33AM

Someone has expressed it far more better than I can I'll look for the piece ** -- southdenverhoo 10/27/2020 09:37AM

He's not lib enough for South Denver. ( Few are) ** -- Hoogle.com 10/27/2020 09:37AM

And yet I'll read and re-read George Will columns. It's more about the -- southdenverhoo 10/27/2020 09:40AM

Why are you offended that groups that refer to themselves as Marxists are -- HokieDan95 10/27/2020 10:36AM

Sorry, don't understand the premise, or the question. ** -- southdenverhoo 10/27/2020 11:34AM

I’ll be interested to read the piece on Brooks if you find it. -- hoolstoptheheels 10/27/2020 09:50AM

Ha, well played. ( But true) ** -- Hoogle.com 10/27/2020 09:43AM