court packing
Adding sympathetic justices
Court packing is the practice of expanding a court's membership to change its ideological balance—specifically, adding judges who will rule in ways favorable to whoever controls appointments.
The term carries strong negative connotations, implying manipulation of the judiciary for political ends.
It originates from Franklin Roosevelt's failed 1937 attempt to add seats to the U.S.
Supreme Court after it struck down New Deal legislation.
Critics accused the administration of court packing.
- FDRDepression-era presidential initials
- RooseveltFamous presidential surname
- third termOffice held thrice consecutively
- judicialOf courts and judges
- judicial branchLaw-interpreting government arm
justices · federal judges · expansion · nine · bench · nomination · constitutional · nuclear option · reform · senators · power grab · political power · stacking the deck · New Deal · precedent · appointments · confirmation · majority
- controversiescontroversy, dispute, scandal, outcry, outrage
- judicial reformjudicial reform, justice reform, legal reform, judicial independence, judicial appointments
- political controversiesabortion, gun control, voter suppression, gerrymandering, affirmative action
- political dysfunctionmisrule, tyranny, authoritarianism, dictatorship, despotism
- political reformpolitical reform, electoral reform, campaign finance, term limits, redistricting
- checks and balanceschecks and balances, separation of powers, veto power, impeachment, congressional oversight
court packingjudicial independence
Freedom of courts from control
judicial integrity · separation of powers · rule of law · judicial restraint · checks and balances
court, packing, courts, courted, courting, courtly, courtier, courtiers, courtesy