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Schmidt Speaks to Keep Nine Resolution

June 1, 2021
Jean Schmidt News

COLUMBUS – State Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) last week delivered sponsor testimony to the House Civil Justice Committee on House Concurrent Resolution 18, a resolution that asks Congress to adopt the “Keep Nine” amendment to the United States Constitution that states: “The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine Justices.”

Schmidt stated in her testimony, “As you know, Congressional Democrats recently unveiled a proposal to expand the number of seats on the Court from nine to 13 – and while Nancy Pelosi has said she has ‘no plans to bring it to the floor,’ I have concerns that the issue won’t go away. I served in Congress with three of the co-sponsors of The Judiciary Act of 2021 and I know first-hand that when Jerry Nadler, a seasoned legislator, wants something done in the House, he will use his influence as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee to get it done.”

House Concurrent Resolution 18 also received support in the form of written testimony from former Speaker Newt Gingrich, who served as the 50th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and was a part of the Republican Revolution. Gingrich testified that the U.S. Constitution makes is very clear that Congress, with presidential approval, can decide the number of Supreme Court Justices.

“It would be a major mistake to change the number of justices for political reasons. It would undermine public confidence and weaken respect for the law,” Gingrich said in his testimony. 

Schmidt’s resolution is supported by the Coalition to Preserve an Independent Supreme Court and KeepNine Outreach. House Concurrent Resolution 18 also received written testimony in support of it from Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Takulve and former Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen.