Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley has cautioned that renewed Democratic interest in expanding the U.S. Supreme Court could threaten the stability of the country’s constitutional system. His remarks followed comments from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who suggested that increasing the Court to 13 justices could align it more closely with the structure of the federal appellate courts.
Speaking on Fox News, Turley dismissed that rationale, arguing that it misrepresents how the federal judiciary is organized. He noted that while there are 13 circuit courts, this does not provide a direct justification for expanding the Supreme Court itself. Turley further claimed that proposals to enlarge the Court are primarily motivated by efforts to shift its ideological balance rather than improve judicial function.
He also pointed to what he described as a broader intellectual movement among some academics and commentators who support major constitutional reforms. In his view, some advocates see the current Court as an obstacle to achieving key policy objectives and therefore support structural changes to influence its future rulings.
Turley warned that expanding the Court for partisan advantage could erode public trust in the judiciary and weaken a core institution of American governance. He concluded by urging political leaders to consider the long-term institutional consequences of altering the Court for short-term political gain.
