Fox News reporter Peter Doocy is pressing White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on President Joe Biden’s order to create a panel to study expanding the Supreme Court.
During a Friday press briefing, Doocy mentioned a previous quote from Biden on court-packing, “He said he thought that court-packing was a ‘bonehead idea’ when FDR tried it.”
Doocy asked Psaki, “Why ask a panel now to go and see if it is a good idea?”
The press secretary responded, “The panel’s being asked to take a number of steps including the pros and cons on exactly that issue but they will also be looking at the court’s role in the constitutional system, the length of service and turnover of justices on the court, the membership and size of the court, and the court’s case selection, rules, and practices.”
She added, “The makeup of this commission, which was vital for the president, is there are progressives on the court, there are conservatives on the court. People will present different opinions and different points of view and then they’ll have a report at the end of 180 days.”
Watch part of Psaki’s press briefing below:
Pres. Biden is appointing a panel to study expanding the Supreme Court — in response, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Jen Psaki about Biden’s quotes on court-packing from 1983 pic.twitter.com/hczIkgT4qm
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) April 9, 2021
The White House said in a statement the purpose of the commission is “to provide an analysis of the principal arguments in the contemporary public debate for and against Supreme Court reform, including an appraisal of the merits and legality of particular reform proposals.”
The commission is expected to hold public meetings to listen to the views of other experts, and groups and interested individuals with different perspectives on the issues it will be analyzing.
JUST IN: President Biden to sign executive order creating the "Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States," White House says. pic.twitter.com/ecgx9m7ZYs
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 9, 2021
“This action is part of the Administration’s commitment to closely study measures to improve the federal judiciary, including those that would expand access the court system,” the White House said.