court-packing
Adding sympathetic justices
Court-packing is expanding the number of judges on a court to shift its ideological balance.
The term arose from Franklin Roosevelt's 1937 attempt to add justices to the U.S.
Supreme Court after it struck down New Deal legislation.
The proposal failed, but the phrase endures as shorthand for manipulating judicial composition: Critics accused the president of court-packing.
Famous presidential surname
- FDRDepression-era presidential initials
- justicesAdministrators of law
- nominationFormal candidate selection
- appointmentScheduled time for something
bench · judiciary · confirmation · seats · expansion · lifetime tenure · judicial review · constitutional
Attempt to seize control
- partisanBiased toward one side
- majorityOver half of total
- DemocratsLeft-wing American party
- RepublicansConservative American party members
reform · controversial · legislation · Congress · executive overreach · political maneuvering · ideology · balance of power
Mid-twentieth century year
- New DealDepression-era reform agenda
- four horsemenFour dominant field leaders
- HughesWelsh-origin family name
- Great Depression1930s global economic crisis
fireside chat · constitutional crisis · precedent · Franklin Roosevelt · legacy · cautionary tale · separation of powers
Roosevelt
Famous presidential surname
- FDRDepression-era presidential initials
- justicesAdministrators of law
- nominationFormal candidate selection
appointment · bench · judiciary · confirmation · seats · expansion · lifetime tenure · judicial review · constitutional · appellate
power grab
Attempt to seize control
Republicans · reform · controversial · legislation · Congress · executive overreach · political maneuvering · ideology · balance of power · opposition
1937
Mid-twentieth century year
- New DealDepression-era reform agenda
- four horsemenFour dominant field leaders
- HughesWelsh-origin family name
Great Depression · fireside chat · constitutional crisis · precedent · Franklin Roosevelt · legacy · cautionary tale · separation of powers