Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has hinted that he could appoint a seventh conservative Supreme Court justice if he wins the presidency and serves two full terms.[0] Speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando, DeSantis said that the next president may have to replace Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, or Sonia Sotomayor, potentially shifting the balance of the court.[1] He added that if he were able to replace these judges with conservative justices, it could create a 7-2 conservative majority on the Supreme Court that would last for a quarter-century.[2] DeSantis is expected to announce his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination this week.[3]
DeSantis’ comments come after former President Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during his four-year term.[4] These justices, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, helped overturn the 1973 Supreme Court precedent that guaranteed a national right to abortion.[5] Conservative majorities were established on various rulings such as gun rights and religious freedoms by Trump’s appointees.[5]
DeSantis also spoke about his state’s pro-family initiatives, saying that children “need to understand the foundations of our country.[6] They need to understand our Constitution and our Bill of Rights and understand what it means to be an American.” He added that children do better when someone takes an interest in them and that his state is working with groups to address the needs of fathers and get them engaged with their children.[6]
Critics have suggested that DeSantis’ appointment of conservative judges and his focus on pro-family initiatives may be part of a larger strategy to secure the support of evangelical Christian voters in his presidential bid. However, DeSantis has denied that his policies are aimed at a particular group and has said that he is focused on promoting conservative values for all Americans.
0. “DeSantis teases his 2024 campaign by saying he’ll appoint SEVENTH conservative Supreme Court justice” Daily Mail, 23 May. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12113729/DeSantis-teases-2024-campaign-saying-hell-appoint-SEVENTH-conservative-Supreme-Court-justice.html
1. “DeSantis envisions shaping ‘7-2 conservative majority’ on Supreme Court” The Washington Post, 23 May. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/22/desantis-supreme-court-christian-broadcasters-convention/
2. “Ron DeSantis boasts about ‘quarter century’ of 7-2 conservative Supreme Court majority if he wins in 2024” AOL, 23 May. 2023, https://www.aol.com/news/ron-desantis-boasts-quarter-century-172430324.html
3. “DeSantis envisions ‘quarter-century’ of far-right majority in the supreme court” The Guardian US, 23 May. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/23/ron-desantis-president-republican-supreme-court
4. “Gov. DeSantis was the keynote speaker Saturday at an annual Orange County gala” Yahoo Life, 21 May. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/gov-desantis-keynote-speaker-saturday-033234215.html
5. “Ron DeSantis, like Donald Trump, says he can create a more conservative Supreme Court” USA TODAY, 24 May. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/05/23/ron-desantis-donald-trump-conservative-supreme-court/70249383007
6. “DeSantis vows to protect faith, family at National Religious Broadcasters event: ‘Put on full armor of God'” FOX 5 Atlanta, 23 May. 2023, https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/desantis-vows-to-protect-faith-family-at-national-religious-broadcasters-event-put-on-full-armor-of-god
