Harris Dodges Pence When Asked Whether Biden Administration Would Pack The Supreme Court

Topline

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) repeatedly dodged Vice President Mike Pence when pressed during the debate on whether a Biden administration would try to add extra justices to the Supreme Court, a process known as “court packing.”

Key Facts

Key Background

Democrats are incensed that Republicans are pushing ahead with confirming a new justice—Judge Barrett—with just weeks to go before Election Day, after Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland by former President Barack Obama in 2016. McConnell then said that he would not move forward with Garland’s nomination because it was an election year. He has since changed his tone, saying matters are different in 2020 because the Republicans control both the Senate and the White House, while it was split in 2020. The move has led Democrats to criticize McConnell for being a hypocrite, and some to call for Democrats to pack the court should they gain power in 2020.