NYU Law Forum—Should the Supreme Court Be Reformed?

As an institution that famously has no power over purse or sword, the US Supreme Court is particularly reliant on public confidence. But confirmation battles in in recent decades have routinely led to claims that the Court’s independence and integrity are being compromised by politics. Last April, Joseph Biden established a Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States, charging it with analyzing “the principal arguments in the contemporary public debate for and against Supreme Court reform.” With Justice Breyer’s recent announcement that he will be retiring, debate over the Court and selection of its members has once again been thrust into the headlines. At this Forum, members of President Biden’s commission, which delivered its report in December, will assess the Court’s institutional standing and a range of measures that have been proposed to address it.

Participants

Bob Bauer, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence, NYU Law

Olatunde Johnson, Professor of Law, Columbia Law School

Caroline Fredrickson, Distinguished Visitor from Practice, Georgetown University Law Center; Senior Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice, NYU Law

David Levi, Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law

Trevor Morrison, Dean

Eric M. and Laurie B. Roth Professor of Law, NYU Law (moderator)

Richard Pildes, Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law

To join this Forum as an audience member and receive a Zoom link, please register. If you would like to submit a question for the panelists, you may do so on the registration page. Note on accessibility: This virtual event requires an internet connection and a computer or smartphone. The event will have live captioning. If you need any accommodations, or for any questions, please contact Ian Anderson at ian.anderson@nyu.edu.