On Thursday, Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Chuck Grassley wrote a letter to White House Counsel Dana Remus inquiring about reports that the Biden Administration would be creating a commission to recommend changes to the federal judiciary.
NEW → @ChuckGrassley is pressing the White House for information regarding reports of the formation of a ‘bipartisan commission’ to develop policies to “reform” the Supreme Court and federal judiciary.https://t.co/ZtpIjQfCuG
— Sen. Grassley Press (@GrassleyPress) February 5, 2021
One of the greatest concerns is that the commission could be used as an avenue to add seats to the Supreme Court:
Grassley's concerns are well-founded. Senate Democrats sidestepped an attempt by Senator Tom Cotton to get them to go on the record on the issue early this morning.
Last night, every single Senate Democrat refused to oppose packing the Supreme Court.@NRSC @RNCResearch
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) February 5, 2021
After dodging, ducking, dipping, diving and dodging the question on the campaign trail, tonight @ReverendWarnock voted with DC Democrats to support packing the Supreme Court.
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) February 5, 2021
They want liberal, activist judges to attack our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights. https://t.co/dwaa1fzAyk
They are baaaaack: FDR announces “court-packing” plan https://t.co/9RfI7qZSEZ
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) February 5, 2021
Another concern of Grassley's is that housing the initiative in the White House Counsel's office could prevent transparency laws from applying to the commission.
If evading public scrutiny was not the intent, @ChuckGrassley wants a commitment from the White House that they make all records generated by the commission publicly available, unredacted, in a timely manner.https://t.co/ZtpIjQfCuG
— Sen. Grassley Press (@GrassleyPress) February 5, 2021
The Biden Administration should go on the record to the American people and release what their plans are for the federal judiciary.