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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJamelle Bouie: The Supreme Court is Corrupt. This is What We Can Do About It.
May 1, 2026
Taking a brief break from walking around downtown Indianapolis to talk a little about some of what we can do to reform the Supreme Court, reduce its power, and give ourselves the space to govern ourselves.
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Jamelle Bouie: The Supreme Court is Corrupt. This is What We Can Do About It. (Original Post)
marmar
7 hrs ago
OP
RainCaster
(13,821 posts)1. He makes a lot of sense
With your time to hear him out.
AllyCat
(18,949 posts)2. Wow, he really brings up some interesting points.
-misanthroptimist
(1,766 posts)3. A very good synopsis of the Court
I like many of his suggestions, too.
Thanks for posting it.
dalton99a
(94,973 posts)4. The Trump Supreme Whorehouse.
jmbar2
(8,085 posts)5. Brilliant ideas. Worth the time to listen closely.
Summary:
Current court is corrupt both financially, and through "malign use of power" to make decisions not supported by citizens.
They are exercising legislative power intended for congress by creative reinterpretations of constitution, and shadow docket. Decisions made this way are highly contradictory and inconsistent. I.e., states rights' on gun rights, abortion, religion, racial justice, presidential powers.
Primary requirement of SC is to have consistent criteria for decisions, and public explanation of decisions. Shadow docket destroys this expectation.
Court reform options
- Expanding the court including circuit and lower courts.
- Reduce power - jurisdiction stripping
- Strict ethics rules - enforceable
- Take away ability to select clerks - patronage system
- Restrict ability to hear appeals. Create appeals circuit, random panels choose cases, random panels hear cases.
You can have government by judges, or government by the people. But you cannot have both.
Current court is corrupt both financially, and through "malign use of power" to make decisions not supported by citizens.
They are exercising legislative power intended for congress by creative reinterpretations of constitution, and shadow docket. Decisions made this way are highly contradictory and inconsistent. I.e., states rights' on gun rights, abortion, religion, racial justice, presidential powers.
Primary requirement of SC is to have consistent criteria for decisions, and public explanation of decisions. Shadow docket destroys this expectation.
Court reform options
- Expanding the court including circuit and lower courts.
- Reduce power - jurisdiction stripping
- Strict ethics rules - enforceable
- Take away ability to select clerks - patronage system
- Restrict ability to hear appeals. Create appeals circuit, random panels choose cases, random panels hear cases.
You can have government by judges, or government by the people. But you cannot have both.
yellow dahlia
(6,340 posts)6. Thank you, Jamelle Bouie!
And thanks for sharing the post, marmar.