A progressive activist group that advocates for the expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court promoted the endorsement of 20 elected Vermont officials, including Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, in a news release issued yesterday.
Demand Justice said the officials signed on to a statement calling for the addition of four seats to “restore balance.”
“The Supreme Court is controlled by an extremist supermajority that is enacting a partisan Republican agenda instead of following the Constitution and the rule of law. As we saw in the decision overturning Roe v. Wade, no right is safe from the radical, far-right justices who control this Court. Many legal experts agree that rights for women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color, and working people are all at risk as long as this majority controls the Supreme Court.”
The letter also claims: “the Republican-appointed supermajority that controls the Supreme Court is an existential threat to our rights and our democracy….The Court’s overreach is all the more concerning because the Republican supermajority is illegitimate. Republicans blocked Merrick Garland’s nomination, rammed through Brett Kavanaugh despite credible charges of perjury and sexual assault, and confirmed Amy Coney Barrett after 60 million Americans had already voted in the presidential election.”
All of the signers are associated with the progressive wing of the Legislature, whether Democrats, Progressives or independents. In addition to Zuckerman, signers included Sen. Martine Gulick, Sen. Nader Hashim, Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sen. Anne Watson, and Sen. Becca White.
Signatories from the Vermont House include: Rep. Daisy Berbeco, Rep. Mari Cordes Rep. Bobby Farlice-Rubio, Rep. Troy Headrick, Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Rep. Kate Logan, Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Rep. Monique Priestley, Rep. Taylor Small, Rep. Joseph “Chip” Troiano. Mayor of Montpelier Jack McCullough and Burlington City Councilor Joseph Magee also signed.
No Republicans signed the letter.
Much of the content and wording in this article appeared first in today’s Journal-Opinion newsletter.