Birmingham mayor: America’s high court is broken. It needs to be bigger

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is calling for sweeping structural changes to the United States Supreme Court following a contentious ruling regarding Alabama's congressional districts. The court's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which permits the state to move forward with voting maps expected to reduce Black representation, has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats.

Calls for Expansion

Woodfin took to social media to voice his frustrations, labeling the high court as a non-neutral entity that has been influenced by long-term political interests. In a Facebook post, he stated, "The Supreme Court of the United States is not neutral. Its compromised. It has been captured by a political project that has been building for decades."

The Supreme Court’s Tuesday night ruling allows Alabama to utilize a congressional map for the 2026 elections that lower courts previously identified as intentionally racially discriminatory. While supporters on the right have lauded the outcome, the NAACP and other critics view the decision as a severe setback for voting rights and democratic principles.

Restoring Balance

Proposing a solution to what he perceives as a partisan imbalance, Woodfin argued that the current court is too heavily weighted toward conservative interests and must be expanded. "We need to put court expansion back on the table where it belongs," Woodfin stated, noting that Congress holds the constitutional authority to determine the size of the judiciary. He added that the court's composition has been adjusted seven times throughout American history.

According to the Federal Judicial Center, the Supreme Court was established in 1789 with six justices. Its size fluctuated as the nation expanded, reaching ten justices by 1863 before being reduced to seven and eventually landing on the current number of nine in 1869. Woodfin believes that increasing the size of the court could help restore public trust, stating, "When a court loses the trust of the people, the Constitution gives the people a remedy. We should not be afraid to use it."

Woodfin framed his argument within the broader context of American history, reflecting on the cyclical nature of civil rights gains and setbacks. "There has never been a step forward in this country that didn’t get answered with a step back," he observed.

Diverging Opinions

The Mayor’s proposal faced immediate pushback, highlighting the stark political divisions within Alabama. Social media user Vic Minish was among those who criticized the Mayor's stance, suggesting that Woodfin’s call for expansion is merely a response to not getting his desired outcome in court. Minish argued that adding more justices would not address the core of the issue if those appointees did not align with the Mayor's political views.