They could've ballooned it up to 50 justices with all the new additions being Federalist Society ghouls. They could've made the number 9 irrelevant. Why didn't they jump at this easy opportunity to consolidate power?
They could've ballooned it up to 50 justices with all the new additions being Federalist Society ghouls. They could've made the number 9 irrelevant. Why didn't they jump at this easy opportunity to consolidate power?
I think the court is inherently the most conservative branch. It exists to prevent changes that may threaten the people that have power at the current moment. Republicans have good reason to make the court as legitimate as possible, so such blatant shenanigans would not help them when they already have control of the court. Making the presidency and Congress look dumb is fine as long as everyone trusts the court.
Also they kind of did pack the court when they refused to let Obama fill Scalia's seat.