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S. 1616Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Judiciary Act of 2023

Sponsored by Edward J. MarkeySen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
Introduced May 16, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:40 AM UTC

The Judiciary Act of 2023 would change the law governing the Supreme Court by increasing the number of associate justices from eight to twelve and raising the quorum needed for Court business from six to eight members. This amendment affects the composition and voting rules of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Key Provisions

  • Amends Title 28 of the U.S. Code to replace the phrase "a Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices, any six of whom shall constitute a quorum" with "a Chief Justice of the United States and 12 associate justices, any 8 of whom shall constitute a quorum."

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 16, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 16, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 16, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 1616 on the floor

1 Democrat
Edward J. Markey
Sen. Edward J. MarkeyD-MA · Jul 20, 2023

Mr. President, due to a regrettable clerical error, Senators Smith and Warren were not added as original cosponsors of S. 1616, the Judiciary Act of 2023, when I introduced the bill on May 16, 2023.…

Record

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 16, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1616

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 16, 2023

Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 28, United States Code, to allow for 12 associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Judiciary Act of 2023.

2.

Number of justices; quorum

Section 1 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking a Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices, any six of whom shall constitute a quorum and inserting a Chief Justice of the United States and 12 associate justices, any 8 of whom shall constitute a quorum.