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momta

(4,100 posts)
Sat May 18, 2024, 01:03 PM May 2024

I just sent this to my congressman

I live in a very blue area, and my congressman (Joe Neguse) is excellent. AND, he's on the judiciary committee.

Feel free to take, edit, spread it around...or not. But this shit with the court has to stop.


First of all, thank you for everything you do. I continue to be a strong supporter of yours.

I simply don't understand why we are forced to live (and die) by the rules made up by a subset of corrupt, illegitimate, and oblivious "Justices" on the Supreme Court. They continue to bring their own politics, religion, and personal preferences into what should be interpretations of the Constitution.

I listened to an interview with your colleague, Jamie Raskin, and he has some great ideas for reform of the court, including the following:

1. One justice for every circuit
2. Eighteen-year terms
3. An independent ethics board

...among others. These seem pretty reasonable to me.

By the way, I'm not an attorney, just a mom who doesn't want her children to live under this kind of corruption.
32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I just sent this to my congressman (Original Post) momta May 2024 OP
Good for you, my dear momta! CaliforniaPeggy May 2024 #1
Short and to the point. Just right. erronis May 2024 #2
Excellent. leftieNanner May 2024 #3
I join your brief! dchill May 2024 #4
Ca;n't think of much to add or delete Warpy May 2024 #5
I would add this. Abigail_Adams May 2024 #18
First, declare it a terrorist organization Warpy May 2024 #19
Joe Neguse is my Congressman also and mountain grammy May 2024 #6
Thank you! momta May 2024 #12
" I want him to know that it's important to us." We must let our reps know what we want, if they ignore us, fire 'em! Attilatheblond May 2024 #30
I take it we only want to expand the court if it occurs while a Democrat is President onenote May 2024 #7
Keeps it simple NotASurfer May 2024 #8
One of Raskin's other suggestions was something like this. momta May 2024 #13
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this. PatrickforB May 2024 #9
Yeah, whoever thought Ken Buck would be the voice of reason... momta May 2024 #14
The three ideas from Rep Raskin anciano May 2024 #10
1,and 3 would not require a constitutional amendment. LiberalFighter May 2024 #11
I'm with you on 1 and 3 soldierant May 2024 #15
MORE people/voters need to call out the corruptness vapor2 May 2024 #16
Go, you! K&R crickets May 2024 #17
Boy, THAT'S a good one! calimary May 2024 #20
Why, thank you, calimary. momta May 2024 #21
Powerful and to the point. Emile May 2024 #22
I like the idea of expanding the Court COL Mustard May 2024 #23
ya know, i was leery of the term limits. thinkin- mopinko May 2024 #24
No. James48 May 2024 #25
I'm going to pull a Melania JustAnotherGen May 2024 #26
Except Melania didn't have (or care to have) permission. momta May 2024 #31
Great letter! CrispyQ May 2024 #27
I agree w/ a lot of your points. 'Mom' points make your points just as valid as anyone else's, if anything, even SWBTATTReg May 2024 #28
It helps to know others are getting in touch with Congress. ariadne0614 May 2024 #29
Well said DiverDave May 2024 #32

CaliforniaPeggy

(151,625 posts)
1. Good for you, my dear momta!
Sat May 18, 2024, 01:39 PM
May 2024

I think the good legislators recognize their good constituents and their good ideas. Yours are excellent, even if you didn't think of them first.

I hope he listens.

leftieNanner

(15,617 posts)
3. Excellent.
Sat May 18, 2024, 02:32 PM
May 2024

But Republicans would never let such legislation see the light of day.

We have to keep pushing though.

Warpy

(113,000 posts)
5. Ca;n't think of much to add or delete
Sat May 18, 2024, 02:41 PM
May 2024

and the USSC is going to enjoy that exceedingly low approval raing until and unless at least one of your recommendations is adopted. Unfortunately, the term limit will require a constitutional amendment. The other two have a chance of making it through a non wingnut Congress.

 

Abigail_Adams

(333 posts)
18. I would add this.
Sat May 18, 2024, 06:38 PM
May 2024

Nominees must be screened for membership in the anti-American Federalist Society.

momta

(4,100 posts)
12. Thank you!
Sat May 18, 2024, 04:11 PM
May 2024

I know he already knows, but I think it helps for him to hear it from us. I want him to know that it's important to us.

Attilatheblond

(3,971 posts)
30. " I want him to know that it's important to us." We must let our reps know what we want, if they ignore us, fire 'em!
Sun May 19, 2024, 01:01 PM
May 2024

Communicate! In LTTE, in blog comments and other social media, and ESPECIALLY in direct messages to our elected officials.

onenote

(44,117 posts)
7. I take it we only want to expand the court if it occurs while a Democrat is President
Sat May 18, 2024, 02:52 PM
May 2024

It’s not really something we want for any other reason and we’d oppose expanding the court if it meant a Republican president could be filling the new seats.

NotASurfer

(2,299 posts)
8. Keeps it simple
Sat May 18, 2024, 02:59 PM
May 2024

I might suggest limiting a President to two appointments in any 4 year term to make it harder for any administration to steer violently to the right again, but those are reasonable

momta

(4,100 posts)
13. One of Raskin's other suggestions was something like this.
Sat May 18, 2024, 04:12 PM
May 2024

I couldn't remember the particulars, so I didn't include it, but it sounded reasonable.

PatrickforB

(15,025 posts)
9. Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this.
Sat May 18, 2024, 03:01 PM
May 2024

My Rep was Ken Buck and next year (horrors!) may be Lauren Boebert. I will work to elect her Democratic challenger, of course, but the spirit of the Klan is alive and well in some parts of eastern Colorado.

Regardless of who wins, though, I write at least one letter a month to my Rep and call often about issues I care about.

momta

(4,100 posts)
14. Yeah, whoever thought Ken Buck would be the voice of reason...
Sat May 18, 2024, 04:16 PM
May 2024

in ANY political party? I think Ike McCorkle has a shot--military background and all--assuming he gets the nomination next month. I don't know any of the other candidates.

anciano

(1,497 posts)
10. The three ideas from Rep Raskin
Sat May 18, 2024, 03:02 PM
May 2024

that you listed sound very reasonable to me as well. They would be a great start for meaningful reform.
👍

LiberalFighter

(53,312 posts)
11. 1,and 3 would not require a constitutional amendment.
Sat May 18, 2024, 03:37 PM
May 2024

The ethics board would need to be constructed so Federalist Society members don't control it. It would also need to have the power to punish.

soldierant

(7,731 posts)
15. I'm with you on 1 and 3
Sat May 18, 2024, 05:01 PM
May 2024

amd they also need a Code of Ethics with teeth.

Term limits, I don't agree., unless they were able to be reappointed (and reconfirmed.). I have seen too many Republicans using term limits to destroy good Democrats.

vapor2

(1,468 posts)
16. MORE people/voters need to call out the corruptness
Sat May 18, 2024, 05:36 PM
May 2024

Clarence Thomas has yet to recuse from any Jan 6 vote and I am pretty sure Alito won't either. Their egos are too huge.

calimary

(83,770 posts)
20. Boy, THAT'S a good one!
Sat May 18, 2024, 06:59 PM
May 2024

I’m gonna write an ask about it - for NEXT weekend’s script.

My Indivisible group issues a “Call to Action” email every week to all our members and friends. The one for this coming week is already being edited. Publishing will be the next step - for next Tuesday.

But there’s no reason not to work ahead while the idea’s fresh. And there’s plenty of time for updating.

momta

(4,100 posts)
21. Why, thank you, calimary.
Sat May 18, 2024, 09:12 PM
May 2024

As I said, feel free to lift, edit, use it as you will. The more voices, the better.

COL Mustard

(6,758 posts)
23. I like the idea of expanding the Court
Sun May 19, 2024, 05:03 AM
May 2024

But changing the terms would unfortunately require a Constitutional amendment, and that’s not likely to happen in this environment.

mopinko

(71,472 posts)
24. ya know, i was leery of the term limits. thinkin-
Sun May 19, 2024, 07:26 AM
May 2024

i mean, it wd b good. but jeez, a scotus nom fight every term? sheeesh i dont want that.
but it just occurred to me. they’d just b routine. none of this high stakes battle shit. none of the accumulation of cronies. none of the predictable relationships that must b out there w the assholes in the 5th and other circuits who serve up these completely bogus cases.
and 18 yrs sounds right. tho a multiple of 4 wd b smart. 20 or even 24. i do put a high value on institutional knowledge.

JustAnotherGen

(33,208 posts)
26. I'm going to pull a Melania
Sun May 19, 2024, 10:03 AM
May 2024

Copy and paste, remove the last line - and send to Tom Kean Jr. It goes nowhere - but I missed emailing him two weeks in a row.

momta

(4,100 posts)
31. Except Melania didn't have (or care to have) permission.
Sun May 19, 2024, 01:48 PM
May 2024

As the original author you have my full permission to do with it as you please. I'm just delighted that people want to use it

SWBTATTReg

(23,891 posts)
28. I agree w/ a lot of your points. 'Mom' points make your points just as valid as anyone else's, if anything, even
Sun May 19, 2024, 11:24 AM
May 2024

more, since your children (and all of ours, and our extended families are involved).

We need teeth into enacting and moving on the Supreme Court...they have shown to all of us just how corrupt, and unafraid of the rest of us they are, so their heads are in the clouds and they think they are above the law, if anything, making law as they see fit. Not good, since it's our legitimately elected officials in Congress that make the laws, and the president signs them into law. This is no longer true. This Supreme Court (as they like to still call themselves that) has ignored long standing rulings to ride roughshod over long-established law (Roe). They obviously feel like doing anything they want to. This isn't the original purpose of the US Supreme court, never was.

And I don't feel like entrusting the enforcement of anything anymore to the Congress, as it's shown, rather well, how partisan it can be, and these folks won't change their stripes at all, haven't shown any remorse or the like, just the raw filthy grabbing of power.

An extreme approach would be to disband the entire Court, and appoint new Supremes, as the existing members have shown (most of the members, not all) extreme partisanship and bias. Hence, they should NOT ever be allowed near a courtroom anymore. Of course, Term Limits are needed as these existing Justices (w/ exception of two of them) have abused their positions big-time.

I like the idea of having a Justice appointed per every circuit court in the Country. Also, I'd like to have voters vote on perhaps 3, maybe more Justices (and no one else, that the voters pick and no one else) in addition, e.g., do the number of Justices per circuit court, thus, 13 + 3. And why not? Look at how biased Cannon is regarding an open and shut Thief of Secret Documents case in FL. The larger number of Justices also ensure that crazy antics such as overturning long-established law won't be so easily overturned, like some of the existing members of the US Supreme Court promised to Congress when they were sitting for confirmation. They lied, so no mercy. Charge them for lying to Congress and make them pay the full price for lying to Congress and the American people.

There are 13 circuit courts in the United States. These circuit courts are organized from the 94 U.S. judicial districts. The Thirteenth Circuit is the Federal Judicial Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction over certain appeals based on subject matter. In addition to the circuit courts, there is one Supreme Court throughout the country.

There's going to be all kinds of debate but the main point standing still is that the Courts are tainted significantly. Thus, are damaged by the whinny support of just one person, djt, which should never happen. No interference ever by our US Supreme Court should be tolerated by the Election Process in this Country. We all went through it before. Never again. I am kind of waiting for a shoe to drop, that this fake Supreme Court with its errant members would venture to declare Pres. Biden an illegal president...I know that this is extreme, but what other victories have the American people won in the past will still stand? The right to vote? The vote for all to live free and wholesome lives regardless of sexual preference or religious belief, etc., the list goes on.

ariadne0614

(1,847 posts)
29. It helps to know others are getting in touch with Congress.
Sun May 19, 2024, 12:45 PM
May 2024

Yesterday I emailed Dick Durbin (head of the Senate Judiciary Committee) about Alito and Thomas. I also contacted MSNBC to express my appreciation for their coverage, and ask that they not let the issue fall by the wayside.

My own efforts don’t feel as pointless when I see what others are doing. Thanks for posting!

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