Oregon Sen. Wyden introduces 'sweeping' Supreme Court reform bill

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden introduced a bill on Thursday that would bring fundamental changes to the nation's high court.

The senator said the Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act aims to restore balance among the three branches of government, increase transparency, and restore public trust in the Supreme Court as it faces a “legitimacy crisis.”

“The Supreme Court is in crisis and bold solutions are necessary to restore the public trust,” Wyden said. “More transparency, more accountability and more checks on a power hungry Supreme Court are just what the American people are asking for.”

Among the major changes, the bill would expand the court from nine to 15 justices over the course of three presidential terms and would allow the president to appoint one nominee in the first and third years of each presidential term.

In addition to expanding the court, the bill would return the practice of assigning a justice to oversee each circuit, expand the number of circuits by splitting the Ninth Circuit and would creating a new Southwestern Circuit.

Under the bill, the Supreme Court would need a supermajority to overturn acts of Congress and would create a process for Supreme Court nominees that are not reported out of committee within 180 days to be automatically placed on the Senate calendar.

There are also several provisions in the bill that aim to restore trust and transparency in the high court -- including making opinions available to the public and allowing justices to vote to recuse another justice from a case.

Additionally, the IRS would be required to audit each justice's income tax return and publicly release them.

The bill comes as some lawmakers, including Sen. Wyden, have raised ethics concerns over transparency in the court after Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose luxury trips with GOP megadonor Harlan Crowe.

In early August, Wyden sent a letter to Crowe's attorney requesting travel and financial records.

As reported by The Associated Press, Crowe's spokesperson Michael Zona said he has always followed tax laws, adding, “It’s concerning that Senator Wyden is abusing his committee’s powers as part of a politically motivated campaign against the Supreme Court."