Favorable views from the public of the Supreme Court of the United States remain near a historic low, with a poll indicating that overall confidence in the American judicial system declining more than any other civic institution.  Do these trends suggest that Supreme Court reform is needed, in part, to restore credibility in our legal system?  While perceptions may often align with party affiliation, after mounting criticism over perceived ethical lapses, the Supreme Court in late 2023 finally adopted its own code of ethics, something that all lower courts have had for decades.  In 2024, NAPABA called for an effective mechanism to ensure that any such code for the Supreme Court be enforceable.  Meanwhile, proposals like term limits, increasing the size of the Court, and others have again surfaced, prompting ongoing discussion over whether or how reform should proceed.  These questions reside at the heart of whether the Court is a neutral umpire, as Chief Justice Roberts has famously claimed, or if it acts instead as the highest policy making body in the land.

Join NAPABA for a thought-provoking conversation with leading experts as we explore the contours of possible Supreme Court reform to improve the functioning and perception of the nation's highest court. This program is approved for 1.0 hour of general CLE credit in Pennsylvania; credit may qualify elsewhere. Please check your jurisdiction’s reciprocity rules.  

Moderator: David Lat, Original Jurisdiction

Panelists: 
Judge Benes Aldana (ret.) 

Stephen Spaulding

Judge Diane P. Wood