Jim Clyburn proposes expanding Supreme Court to 13 justices

Representative Jim Clyburn has endorsed expanding the Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices. During an interview on NBC News, the South Carolina Democrat suggested that a “baker’s dozen” would be a suitable number for the bench.

Clyburn argued that significant congressional action is required because the current court is moving the country backward in its constitutional interpretations. He specifically cited the Reconstruction amendments and civil-rights decisions of the Warren Court as foundational context for his position. The proposal would involve creating four new lifetime appointments, a move that would allow the presidency and Senate to shape the court's direction for decades.

Additionally, Clyburn expressed regret regarding his past support for Justice Clarence Thomas during his 1991 confirmation, stating he had previously expected Thomas's background to influence his approach to civil-rights precedents, such as the Voting Rights Act.