US President Joe Biden’s 36-member commission, created in April, to study the potential changes in the US Supreme Court is set to release its preliminary report on Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in the briefing on Wednesday. The commission comprised of a bipartisan group of experts are looking to introduce changes like expanding the number of justices or imposing term limits. 

“The topics they’re examining include the origins of the reform debate, the Court’s role in the constitutional system, the length of service and turnover of the justices on the Court, the membership and size of the Court, and the Court’s case-selection rules and practices,” Psaki said. 

Also read: Biden administration defends health law used for deportation on borders

The commission’s first meeting was held in May and it, as per the White house, is looking at the issue of expanding beyond the current nine justices or creating a fixed term for justices instead of lifetime appointments.

“Its mission was to evaluate a number of questions that have prompted calls for reform in a different — in a number of different areas, and, importantly, it will analyze both arguments in favor and against such proposals,” Psaki added.

She said that the release of the preliminary report will be followed by a public meeting of the commission on Friday. The final report will be submitted to the President in mid-November. 

Also read: US to open land borders for fully vaccinated nonessential travel

The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is currently functioning on a  6-3 conservative majority. Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had made three appointments during four years in office, the latest being Justice Amy Coney Barrett last year. 

Joe Biden wishes to make changes at a time when a conservative majority could restrict abortion rights and widen gun rights, alarming liberals.

Also read: Sputnik V’s approval becomes contentious for Russia, WHO

The Republicans have been opposing the move. Discussing the s idea to form a commission, Biden told CBS News that he wanted “recommendations as to how to reform the court system because it’s getting out of whack.”

“It’s not about court-packing. There’s a number of other things that our constitutional scholars have debated. … The last thing we need to do is turn the Supreme Court into just a political football, whoever has the most votes gets whatever they want. Presidents come and go. Supreme Court justices stay for generations,” he said.