Democrats' Virginia Court-Packing Plan Previews Their SCOTUS Strategy
Source: Shawn Fleetwood. "Dems' VA Court-Packing Plan Will Be Used Against SCOTUS." May 11, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that Democrats' plan to pack Virginia's Supreme Court by forcing out current justices shows what they'll do to the U.S. Supreme Court if they regain power. He sees this as part of a pattern where Democrats manipulate courts when they can't win through normal politics.
Conclusion
Democrats' reported plan to pack the Virginia Supreme Court is a preview of what they will do to the U.S. Supreme Court if they regain federal power
Premises
- Democrats are exploring packing the Virginia Supreme Court by lowering the mandatory retirement age to force out current justices and replace them with sympathetic appointees
- This Virginia plan emerged after Democrats failed to achieve their gerrymandering goals through normal legal processes
- Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries have explicitly stated that 'everything is on the table' regarding the Supreme Court, including court-packing
- Democrats have a history of using the courts as a 'super-legislature' to enact their policies when they cannot win through normal democratic processes
- The left views the Supreme Court as their 'rightful property' and will not willingly cede control of it
Assumptions
- The Virginia court-packing plan is serious and representative of broader Democratic strategy rather than idle speculation
- Past Democratic behavior regarding courts is predictive of future behavior
- Democrats will have the political will and ability to execute court-packing if they gain power
- Court-packing represents an illegitimate manipulation of institutions rather than legitimate reform