Full Breakdown
Rep. Jim Clyburn Calls for a “Baker’s Dozen” Supreme Court
8/31/2026, 8:13:31 AM
Core Event
On a recent episode of Meet the Press, moderator Kristen Welker asked Representative James Clyburn (D-South Carolina) whether he supported former Vice President Kamala Harris’s proposal to enlarge the Supreme Court. Clyburn answered affirmatively, stating that Congress should increase the Court’s nine seats to 13, describing the number as “a pretty good number” and a “baker’s dozen.” He framed the proposal as a “significant action” needed to address the Court’s recent direction.
Background & Context
Clyburn, a 17-term congressman, previously advocated for Justice Clarence Thomas during the 1991 confirmation hearings, describing Thomas as a personal friend.
The call for expansion aligns with a broader Democratic discussion. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have publicly advocated for increasing the Court’s size, arguing that the current composition threatens democratic foundations. No formal legislation has yet been introduced to enact such a change.
Official Statements & Responses
- Clyburn emphasized that the priority for Democrats, should they regain the House, is to make housing, education, energy, and health care affordable, not to pursue impeachment of former President Donald Trump.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think we are in a position now that calls for some significant actions taken by the Congress and we ought to expand, and 13 is a pretty good number. A baker’s dozen, it would be a good number to have on the court.” — Representative Jim Clyburn
- “I had hoped that Clarence Thomas would follow the modern underpinnings of that Constitution of ours, but he has not done so,” — Representative Jim Clyburn
- “I don’t rule it out, but I don’t rule it in.” — White House, NBC news chief
- “We haven’t ruled anything in and we haven’t ruled anything out,” — Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
Data & Statistics
- Current composition of the Supreme Court: 9 justices.
- Proposed composition under Clyburn’s plan: 13 justices (a baker’s dozen).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources uniformly report Clyburn’s statements; no contradictory figures or claims are identified. The article does not indicate whether any congressional committee plans to act on the proposal, leaving the procedural next steps unclear.
