by Guy Page
Lieutenant Gov. David Zuckerman today led a small group of Progressive legislators calling for national legislation to expand the U.S. Supreme Court by four seats.
Due in large part to President Donald Trump’s appointment of three conservative justices to the nation’s highest court, the current SCOTUS has issued rulings on abortion, gun rights, the accountability of the federal administrative state and other issues that are anathema to many progressives.
“We are seeing the traditional institutional norms and balance and respect for the system being completely upended by a tyrannical minority,” Zuckerman, a progressive who ran and won as a Democrat in 2022, said.
The Constitution gives the authority to change the numbers on the court, Zuckerman noted. “Expanding the Supreme Court by four seats will re-establish the balance for many, many years,” he said. Zuckerman also called for term limits to ensure the high court is invigorated by new blood.
Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (P-Chittenden) also spoke in favor of expanding the court at the noontime, outdoor press conference. Inside, Sen. Ann Watson (D-Washington) said she supports it too. By contrast, Sen. Terry Williams (R-Rutland) said he opposes the idea, and Sens. Irene Wrenner (D-Chittenden) and Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) both said they haven’t yet formed an opinion.
Vermont U.S. Senator Peter Welch sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Zuckerman said he plans to reach out to Welch to discuss his proposed legislation.