With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

The History of 'Court Packing'

Now that Amy Coney Barrett has joined the Supreme Court, many are urging former Vice President Joe Biden to consider adding new seats to the Court if he's elected. But it's not the first time there's been talk of "packing the court." Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer looks at why Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to add up to 6 seats to the Supreme Court in 1937, why it hurt him politically, and what packing the court in 2021 would accomplish.

Read entire article at WNYC