Democrats could dust off plans for Supreme Court reforms after capturing House and Senate

Key Points:

• Following midterm election victories, Democrats, controlling at least 54 Senate seats and 250 House seats, are positioned to advance Supreme Court reform legislation that had stalled under Republican control.
• House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Jamie Raskin are expected to lead efforts on court reforms, including ethics rules, term limits for justices, and potentially expanding the number of Supreme Court seats.
• Proposed ethics reforms include requiring a code of conduct for justices, disclosure of gifts and income, and establishing internal offices to investigate complaints, motivated by recent controversies involving Justice Clarence Thomas.
• Democrats are also considering term limits for Supreme Court justices, with some proposals suggesting 18-year limits and mandatory retirement for justices serving longer, though constitutional amendments would be required for enforcement.
• Court expansion remains a debated option among Democrats, aiming to address conservative rulings on key issues, though any such changes face significant legislative and political hurdles.