Vice President Kamala Harris sidestepped a direct answer on expanding the Supreme Court during a CNN town hall on Wednesday, instead opting for a vague promise to “study” the issue. The question was posed by a town hall attendee who asked if Harris would support increasing the court’s size to 12 justices, with each justice having jurisdiction over only one circuit court, excluding the chief justice.
Harris responded by acknowledging the growing distrust of the Supreme Court among the American people, but failed to provide any concrete solutions. “There is no question that the American people, increasingly, are losing confidence in the Supreme Court, and, in large part, because of the behavior of certain members of that court,” she said, referencing recent rulings such as the Dobbs decision.
However, Harris did not explicitly state whether she supports expanding the court’s size, instead choosing to focus on the need for “reform.” Her response was met with skepticism by some, who interpreted her words as a lack of clarity on the issue.
Harris’s evasive answer on the Supreme Court came as she shifted her focus to criticizing her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. The move was seen by some as an attempt to deflect attention from her own lack of specificity on a key issue.
The CNN town hall was Harris’s latest effort to connect with voters and showcase her leadership skills, but her response on the Supreme Court raised questions about her ability to provide clear guidance on the issue. As the 2024 presidential election heats up, Harris’s stance on the court’s size and composition will likely be closely scrutinized by voters and critics alike.
Harris’s discussion of the Supreme Court was also notable for its lack of detail. While she acknowledged the court’s declining popularity, she failed to offer any concrete solutions for addressing the issue. Her promise to “study” the matter raised concerns that she may be more interested in avoiding the issue than in providing meaningful reform.
The issue is likely to remain a contentious one in the 2024 presidential election, with Harris’s lack of clarity on the matter only adding to the uncertainty.
