Expand the Supreme Court to 13 Justices

Supreme 13 advocates expanding the U.S. Supreme Court from 9 to 13 justices to restore democratic balance, ensure the Court better reflects the nation it serves, and rebuild public trust in the nation’s highest court.

Why 13 Justices? The number is not arbitrary. The federal judiciary has 13 courts of appeals—12 regional circuits and the Federal Circuit. During much of the nineteenth century, Congress generally aligned the number of Supreme Court justices with the number of judicial circuits. Expanding the Court to 13 justices would align its size with the modern federal appellate system, giving it a clear, defensible structural logic rather than leaving it fixed at a number set more than 150 years ago. Beyond that structural rationale, expanding the Court in 2029—if voters elect a Democratic president and congressional majorities committed to reform—would help rebalance a Court that has had a Republican-appointed majority for decades. 

Learn more about how and why Congress has changed the size of the Supreme Court throughout U.S. history. 

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