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Can the House defund the Supreme Court? (Original Post) Goodheart Jun 2019 OP
Probably not. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2019 #1
The Senate doesn't seem to care Yeehah Jun 2019 #30
You want to abandon the rule of law? SCantiGOP Jun 2019 #2
Trump would dig into his own pocket customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #9
Yeah right... AZ8theist Jun 2019 #11
And you think this wouldn't benefit him? n/t customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #12
Of course it would benefit him... AZ8theist Jun 2019 #28
Nah, he never uses his own money for anything csziggy Jun 2019 #13
Hmm, good point customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #14
I doubt it. He stiffs everyone he can. demosincebirth Jun 2019 #26
Only in our dreams... Justice Thomas might be relegated to collecting coins outside the SCOTUS hlthe2b Jun 2019 #3
I almost missed what you did there customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #10
You got to be ol enough to remember Thomas, the pervert, by a hair. demosincebirth Jun 2019 #27
Oh, I am customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #29
Good for you demosincebirth Jul 2019 #31
Sometimes customerserviceguy Jul 2019 #32
Partially - they cannot remove salary from judges. NutmegYankee Jun 2019 #4
No but maybe sarisataka Jun 2019 #5
Given the Repugnants manipulation to stack the court I think our only solution once we regain cstanleytech Jun 2019 #6
That is the only solution that I can see. BigmanPigman Jun 2019 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author Polybius Jun 2019 #15
And what happens if in 2028 we elect another Republican? Polybius Jun 2019 #16
So we should let them be rewarded? cstanleytech Jun 2019 #17
No Polybius Jun 2019 #18
And if they do? Lets say Ginsburg should die and Thomas retires then they get a 6 majority which cstanleytech Jun 2019 #19
I don't even want to think about that Polybius Jun 2019 #20
Well you might want to consider it because its possible that could happen and then what? Should cstanleytech Jun 2019 #21
Only if there is a vacancy and Trump fills it Polybius Jun 2019 #23
Hmm I like the idea of 13 as that was also the number of the first states. cstanleytech Jun 2019 #24
So how does this make us better than them? graeme_macquarrie Jun 2019 #25
No, but they can eliminate all the other Federal courts. OliverQ Jun 2019 #7
My guess would be...maybe? Volaris Jun 2019 #22

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,280 posts)
1. Probably not.
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 08:38 PM
Jun 2019

The Constitution says there's a Supreme Court, and if there wasn't any money there wouldn't be one - so it would be unconstitutional to defund the Supreme Court. However, Marbury v. Madison says the Supreme Court decides what's constitutional and what isn't, so if there was no Supreme Court, who would decide that having no Supreme Court would be unconstitutional? Probably the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which would effectively become the Supreme Court because there would be nobody to appeal to.

Yeehah

(4,524 posts)
30. The Senate doesn't seem to care
Sun Jun 30, 2019, 06:45 PM
Jun 2019

The Senate is supposed to advise/assent the President's Supreme Court nominees. Funny how they didn't do that for President Obama. Maybe that Constitution thingy only applies to Democrats.

AZ8theist

(5,339 posts)
28. Of course it would benefit him...
Sun Jun 30, 2019, 06:10 PM
Jun 2019

Doturd does NOTHING that DOESN'T BENEFIT HIMSELF.
He is the epitome of a self serving scumbag.

csziggy

(34,120 posts)
13. Nah, he never uses his own money for anything
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 10:30 PM
Jun 2019

He'd set up a GoFundMe for his followers to pay for his chosen judges - then he'd take at least ten percent off the top for administrative fees.

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
3. Only in our dreams... Justice Thomas might be relegated to collecting coins outside the SCOTUS
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 08:44 PM
Jun 2019

in a COKE can...

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
29. Oh, I am
Sun Jun 30, 2019, 06:25 PM
Jun 2019

and I remember all the ladies in my office saying, "Yeah, you're a little bit like that." So, I cleaned up my act.

NutmegYankee

(16,178 posts)
4. Partially - they cannot remove salary from judges.
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 08:44 PM
Jun 2019

They could reduce staff expenses and budget, but the Constitution is quite clear that compensation (salary) can't be diminished while a judge is in Office.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
6. Given the Repugnants manipulation to stack the court I think our only solution once we regain
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 08:51 PM
Jun 2019

the Presidency and the majority in Congress is to increase the number of SCOTUS seats from 9 to 17.
After all the Repugnants should not be rewarded for what they have done which is what doing nothing would be doing.

Response to BigmanPigman (Reply #8)

Polybius

(15,239 posts)
16. And what happens if in 2028 we elect another Republican?
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 11:13 PM
Jun 2019

He or she will just say "I see your 17, and I raise to 29."

Polybius

(15,239 posts)
18. No
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 11:31 PM
Jun 2019

But if we raise, they will raise. Keep it at 9, they won't get any more Justices in Trump's final year and a half.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
19. And if they do? Lets say Ginsburg should die and Thomas retires then they get a 6 majority which
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 11:45 PM
Jun 2019

for atleast 20 years or more.

Polybius

(15,239 posts)
20. I don't even want to think about that
Sun Jun 30, 2019, 12:59 AM
Jun 2019

Thankfully, there wasn't even a hint of a rumor of anyone retiring this June.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
21. Well you might want to consider it because its possible that could happen and then what? Should
Sun Jun 30, 2019, 01:03 AM
Jun 2019

we let them get away with it or should our guys take action to increase the number of SCOTUS seats to bring the court back into balance?

 
25. So how does this make us better than them?
Sun Jun 30, 2019, 02:28 PM
Jun 2019

If both parties are willing to manipulate the make-up of the supreme court to achieve their own political ends, why would voters see any difference between us and the republicans?
Please consider that neither party has a majority of registered voters. Elections are decided by the unaffiliated voters siding with either party

 

OliverQ

(3,363 posts)
7. No, but they can eliminate all the other Federal courts.
Sat Jun 29, 2019, 08:59 PM
Jun 2019

The Constitution only requires a Supreme Court. Congress decides the number and make-up of the rest of the federal courts. If Dems had they Senate, the could take a court that McConnell packed with right-wingers and either eliminate the court, are change the number of justices on the court.

Volaris

(10,260 posts)
22. My guess would be...maybe?
Sun Jun 30, 2019, 01:24 AM
Jun 2019

Cut it's funding probably?(same as the navy---Constitutionally Mandated that it exist in some functional form)...


Congress can OUTRIGHT pass laws totally eliminating the standing Army tho, as far as I know (NOT Constitutionally Mandated), ...to your OP, the federal district courts are completely a creation of Congress, and Congress can expand, contract, or eliminate them as Congress damnwell sees fit.

I'm in no way suggesting messing around with them is a GOOD IDEA.

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