Should We Expand the Supreme Court? New Debate from Intelligence Squared U.S., September 30

This fall, President Biden's Supreme Court commission will release its recommendations on, among other things, whether to expand the Court beyond the current nine justices. The Court hasn't been expanded since Ulysses S. Grant inhabited the White House, but advocates on the left are arguing it is time. They see a Supreme Court out of touch with the American electorate, obstructed by partisan interests, and rendered illegitimate by years of controversial appointments. But those opposed argue that move to dramatically change one of the three core pillars of American government would ultimately undermine the court's legitimacy. On September 30, Intelligence Squared U.S. in partnership with Northwestern Pritzker School of Law addresses these questions in a new debate on the motion "We Should Expand the Supreme Court."

Arguing in favor of the motion are Slate's Dahlia Lithwick, one of the nation's most prominent progressive legal commentators and Supreme Court analysts, and Tamara Brummer, Director for Demand Justice, one of the leading organizations advocating for court expansion and reform. Arguing against the motion are constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar, who is one of the most cited scholars by Supreme Court justices of his generation, and Carter Phillips, who has argued more than 85 cases before the Supreme Court.

The debate will be released publicly on Friday, October 1 via public radio, video and the Intelligence Squared U.S. podcast. However, there is a private preview screening on September 30 at 6:00 PM ET that will include a live roundtable Q&A with all four debaters following the debate. Media can email raypadgett@shorefire.com for press access.

FOR THE MOTION - BIOS

* Dahlia Lithwick: Legal Commentator & Host, Slate's Amicus Podcast
Dahlia Lithwick is one of the nation's most prominent progressive legal commentators and Supreme Court analysts. She is a senior editor at Slate, where she has written her "Supreme Court Dispatches" and "Jurisprudence" columns since 1999 and is the host of the award-winning law podcast "Amicus." She holds a J.D. from Stanford University and is currently teaching a short course on the Supreme Court and Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the University of Virginia law school.

* Tamara Brummer: Political Organizer & Strategist
Tamara Brummer serves as Senior Advisor and Director of National Outreach and Engagement for Demand Justice, one of the leading organizations advocating for court expansion and reform. Prior to this post, Tamara has spent years as a political organizer and strategist building meaningful and impactful relationships rooted in a shared vision of economic justice. This includes tenures across the labor movement, notably with the AFL-CIO and International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

AGAINST THE MOTION - BIOS

* Carter Phillips: Supreme Court & Appellate Litigator
Carter Phillips is one of the most experienced and celebrated Supreme Court and appellate lawyers in the country. He has argued more than 85 cases before the Supreme Court both in private practice and on behalf of the United States Government. He served as Assistant to the Solicit General and clerked for Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. He is a partner at the law firm Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C. Carter is an alum of the Northwestern School of Law, where he is a professor in the Supreme Court clinic.

* Akhil Reed Amar: Constitutional Scholar
Akhil Reed Amar is a constitutional scholar, law professor, and author. He has been cited by the Supreme Court justices in more than 40 cases, making him one of the most cited scholars of his generation. After graduating from Yale Law School, he clerked for then-Judge (now Justice) Stephen Breyer and then joined the Yale faculty at only age 26. Akhil recently launched the weekly podcast America's Constitution and is currently a professor at Yale Law.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) was founded to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Through its award-winning live debates and associated programming, the nonprofit company serves as a model for responsible media in a new age - fair, intelligent, nonpartisan - while restoring critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to public discourse. Recently recognized as "Best Podcast Event of 2020" by Adweek, Intelligence Squared U.S. reaches millions through multi-platform distribution, including public radio (the show airs in all top 25 markets that carry specials), podcasts, video live streaming, newsletters, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps including Roku and Apple TV. With over 190 Oxford-style debates and counting, plus additional podcast and video content, IQ2US has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics for over a decade. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated since 2008.

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