50+ New York Elected Officials Endorse Supreme Court Expansion

Press Release / February 15, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 2023

CONTACT: [email protected]

New York Leaders Call For Urgently Needed Reforms to the Nation’s Highest Court

WASHINGTON, DC — As part of a growing national movement of state and local elected officials embracing the need for Supreme Court reform, more than 50 New York state and local elected officials announced their support for expanding the U.S. Supreme Court today.

In Congress, Supreme Court expansion is supported by eight members of the New York delegation: House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerry Nadler and Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ritchie Torres, and Nydia Velazquez. Mayor Eric Adams has called expansion “crucial.”

“Whether on gun safety or on abortion rights and beyond, recent decisions by this extremist Supreme Court have inflicted serious damage on the rights of New Yorkers,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. “Expanding seats on the Court would help to restore some sense of confidence for everyday Americans that their identities, experiences, and issues have a seat at the table. If we have to, we’ll bring a folding chair.”

“Recent Supreme Court decisions have rolled back decades of progressive reforms, harming all Americans,” said New York Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “A 6-3 majority creates catastrophic effects on American democracy that are not representative of the belief of everyday Americans.”

“The Supreme Court is currently limiting our ability to address critical issues like gun violence, climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, affirmative action, and water quality,” said Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson Howard. “We cannot make tangible progress for the American people with the Supreme Court constantly undermining improvements. That is why the city I lead, Mount Vernon, has already issued a resolution calling for the Court’s expansion. I am pleased now to stand with my fellow New York lawmakers and call upon Congress to expand the Court.”  

Lawmakers are coming together to push for Supreme Court reform and expansion because the current makeup of the Court poses a serious threat to our ability to solve the most pressing issues of the day here in New York.

“We are coming together to push for Supreme Court reform and expansion because we know that the current makeup of the court poses a serious threat to our ability to solve the most pressing issues of the day here in New York,” said Kevin Riley, New York City Council Member and NYC Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus Co-Chair.  “The radical 6-3 Supreme Court bench is a direct threat to New Yorkers’ rights and is out of step with the American public on women’s rights, gun safety laws, and beyond. It is time for Congress to pass laws to expand and reform the court to properly meet this moment.”

“As a leader in New York, I am proud to advocate for Supreme Court expansion. Supreme Court expansion is vital to restore balance and normalcy in the judiciary of the United States,” said New York State Assemblywoman and New York State Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force Chair Karines Reyes.

The New York leaders join elected officials in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Washington state, and Pennsylvania who have previously announced support for expansion.

A full list of the elected leaders that support these efforts:

State Senate:

  • Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris
  • Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman-Sigal
  • Sen. Jabari Brisport
  • Sen. Nathalia Fernandez
  • Sen. Leroy Comrie
  • Sen. Shelley Mayer 
  • Sen. Jessica Ramos 
  • Sen. Gustavo Rivera 
  • Sen. Julia Salazar 
  • Sen. James Sanders Jr.

State Assembly:

  • Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson
  • Assemblymember Kenny Burgos
  • Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman
  • Assemblymember Taylor Darling
  • Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos
  • Assemblymember Harvey Epstein
  • Assemblymember Emily Gallagher
  • Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs
  • Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas 
  • Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman
  • Assemblymember Chantel Jackson
  • Assemblymember Anna Kelles
  • Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani
  • Assemblymember Karines Reyes 
  • Assemblymember Phara Souffrant-Forest
  • Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia
  • Assemblymember Latrice Walker

New York City: 

  • Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
  • Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso
  • Queens Borough President Donovan Richards
  • City Councilmember Shaun Abreu
  • City Councilmember Gale Brewer
  • City Councilmember Amanda Farias
  • City Councilmember Oswald Feliz
  • City Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse
  • City Councilmember Kevin Riley
  • City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca
  • City Councilmember Althea Stevens
  • City Councilmember Marjorie Velazquez
  • City Councilmember Nantasha Williams

Other local leaders:

  • Mayor of Mount Vernon Shawyn Patterson-Howard
  • Albany Common Council President Corey Ellis
  • Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy
  • Westchester County Board of Legislators Chair Catherine Borgia
  • Mount Vernon City Council President Derrick Thompson
  • Mount Vernon City Council Danielle Browne
  • Mount Vernon City Council Lisa Copeland
  • Mount Vernon City Council Cathlin Gleason
  • Mount Vernon City Council Edward Poteat
  • Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages
  • Onondaga County Legislator Mary Kuhn

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