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This surely qualifies as one of the major surprises of our yet young year: the 85th Congress is giving serious consideration to Senator Jenner’s bill to limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. When Jenner introduced the bill last summer, its chances of getting congressional support looked like Stassen’s of becoming President. Congress had its back up over recent Court decisions, true; but in this age of moderation a proposal to strip the Court of all of its power in certain areas was hardly comme il faut. And though the bill was approved by the Subcommittee on Internal Security1 in August, the outlook remained unpromising: capital observers (including this correspondent) felt sure the full Committee on the Judiciary would give it a cold shoulder when Congress reconvened.

We were wrong. The Judiciary Committee is currently split in two over Jenner’s measure. It has decided to return the bill to the Subcommittee for further hearings, and has agreed to take a final vote on it no later than March 10. Starting this week (February 18) the Subcommittee will devote full time to testimony on the bill. There are signs of genuine concern in Liberal quarters: Senator Hennings is said to be urging a number of legal experts to testify; the ADA, which doesn’t need mobilizing, will be on hand; the Washington Post has already opened up its editorial guns.

LB

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L. Brent Bozell Jr.

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This surely qualifies as one of the major surprises of our yet young year: the 85th Congress is giving serious consideration to Senator Jenner’s bill to limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. When Jenner introduced the bill last summer, its chances of getting congressional support looked like Stassen’s of becoming President. Congress had its back up over recent Court decisions, true; but in this age of moderation a proposal to strip the Court of all of its power in certain areas was hardly comme il faut. And though the bill was approved by the Subcommittee on Internal Security1 in August, the outlook remained unpromising: capital observers (including this correspondent) felt sure the full Committee on the Judiciary would give it a cold shoulder when Congress reconvened.

We were wrong. The Judiciary Committee is currently split in two over Jenner’s measure. It has decided to return the bill to the Subcommittee for further hearings, and has agreed to take a final vote on it no later than March 10. Starting this week (February 18) the Subcommittee will devote full time to testimony on the bill. There are signs of genuine concern in Liberal quarters: Senator Hennings is said to be urging a number of legal experts to testify; the ADA, which doesn’t need mobilizing, will be on hand; the Washington Post has already opened up its editorial guns.