Members of the Georgia House of Representatives have submitted a resolution that asks the U.S. Congress “to reject any and all actions to increase the number of justices on the United States Supreme Court.”
Staff for U.S. Sen.-elect Jon Ossoff and U.S. Sen.-elect Raphael Warnock, both Democrats scheduled to soon represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate, did not return The Georgia Star News’ requests for comment on the matter.
Five members of the Georgia House are sponsoring the resolution:
• Georgia State Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth)
• State Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton)
• State Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem)
• State Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross)
• State Rep. Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville)
The five legislators, in their resolution, said changing the number of justices on the court undermines its independence. They also said an independent court “is an essential and fundamental element of the United States’ system of checks and balances that protects our Constitutional rights.”
“Previous attempts to increase the number of justices on the United States Supreme Court have been summarily rejected and widely condemned by individuals in both political parties,” according to the resolution.
On Friday The Star News asked all 14 men and women who represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives for comment.
Only four of them — all Republicans — responded through their members of their respective staffs. They said via email that they oppose increasing the number of U.S. Supreme Court justices.
Staff members emailed the following statements :
• U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01): “I absolutely do not support increasing the number of justices on the United States Supreme Court.”
• U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14): Spokesman Nick Dyer said that “Congresswoman Greene opposes any effort from Democrats to pack the Supreme Court, reverse the conservative majority, and end over 150 years of judicial precedent.”
• U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11): Spokesman Brandon Cockerham said that “Congressman Loudermilk will vigorously oppose any attempts by the left to pack the Supreme Court.”
• U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03): Spokesman Brian Piper said “Congressman Ferguson greatly appreciates the input of the General Assembly and is opposed to any and all efforts to pack the Supreme Court.”
Two other members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation, meanwhile, are currently co-sponsoring a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives that addresses additional U.S. Supreme Court justices. That resolution proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to prevent any act that increases the number of justices on the Supreme Court from taking effect for 10 years following its enactment.
U.S. Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA-12) and U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA-08) are two of the resolution’s 11 co-sponsors.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
