The Keep Nine Amendment states: “The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine Justices.”
Support for the Keep Nine Amendment is gaining momentum in Maryland. On Tuesday, May 21, the Central Baltimore County Republican Club voted unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting the Keep Nine Supreme Court Justices Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Louise Baker, a prominent Keep Nine Amendment advocate, presented the resolution to club President Maria Zickuhr, who promptly facilitated its consideration and vote during the meeting.
The Keep Nine Amendment is part of a broader bipartisan effort established several years ago to preserve the independence of the United States Supreme Court. Currently, the amendment boasts support from over 200 members of Congress. As the 2024 election season progresses, an increasing number of candidates are pledging their support for the amendment, reflecting its growing significance in political discourse.
Louise Baker, also the President of the Republican Women of Baltimore County, recommends that supporters sign the Keep Nine petition available at the KeepNine.org website https://keepnine.org/sign-the-keep-nine-petition/. She emphasized the importance of public awareness in pressuring elected officials to safeguard the integrity of the Supreme Court. "The more we shine the light on this issue, the more pressure it places on our elected officials to ensure the integrity of our Supreme Court," Baker stated.
The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who opposed court packing, once remarked that nine is "a good number" for the Supreme Court. Currently, the Constitution does not specify the size of the Supreme Court, leaving it vulnerable to changes by future Congresses and Presidents seeking political advantage—a tactic known as "court packing."
Polling indicates that a majority of voters believe court packing would undermine the checks and balances that prevent abuses of power by future Presidents or Congresses. Political landscapes evolve, with shifts in the presidency and Congressional majorities over time. To permanently protect the Supreme Court's independence from potential political manipulation, a Constitutional Amendment is essential.
The unanimous vote by the Central Baltimore County Republican Club underscores the growing bipartisan support for the Keep Nine Amendment, which seeks to maintain the Supreme Court's composition at nine justices. This movement reflects a broader commitment to preserving the judiciary's independence from political influence. As public awareness and support continue to build, the Keep Nine Amendment stands as a crucial measure to ensure the enduring stability and integrity of the United States Supreme Court. By codifying the number of justices, the amendment aims to protect the Court from future attempts at political manipulation, thereby safeguarding the foundational principles of American democracy.
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