Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed support for expanding the U.S. Supreme Court during an episode of the podcast "High Stakes." During the discussion with host Kara Swisher, Clinton said she favored increasing the number of justices from nine to 13. She cited the current existence of 13 federal judicial circuits as a rationale for the expansion, stating the court should have one justice for each circuit.
Clinton’s comments follow similar proposals from other prominent Democrats in recent months. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) endorsed expanding the court to 13 members in late August, calling it a "baker's dozen." Former Vice President Kamala Harris also voiced support for a 13-justice court during a speech at the National Urban League's annual conference, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has advocated for "dramatic" reforms, though he did not specify a preferred number of seats.
Clinton noted that she favored expansion over other proposed changes, such as term limits, due to practical concerns. While Clinton does not currently hold public office and cannot vote on such legislation, her endorsement joins other party leaders, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), who have stated that "all options" for court reform should remain under consideration.
For federal workers and litigants, a larger court could potentially change the manner in which cases are heard. Advocates for the plan, such as Rep. Clyburn, argue that the current nine-justice model is outdated given that the U.S. Court of Appeals is now divided into 13 regional circuits. Critics and political observers, as noted by The Hill, have raised questions about whether such a push could become a campaign issue for Republicans in upcoming elections, potentially influencing voter turnout or candidate platforms in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
The specific timing for any formal legislative action remains unknown, as Hakeem Jeffries indicated that while options are on the table, no single path has been finalized. The debate is expected to continue in the coming months as Democratic voters consider court reform as a potential litmus test for future candidates. A discussion on the political implications was scheduled for a "Whole Hog Politics" briefing on October 23, 2026, featuring analysts Bill Sammon and Chris Stirewalt. No specific vote dates or bill numbers for a 13-justice expansion were reported in the source material.