What action did President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempt regarding the Supreme Court?

President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court through a plan often referred to as the "court-packing" scheme. This initiative was proposed because Roosevelt was frustrated with the Court's decisions that struck down several key pieces of his New Deal legislation aimed at economic recovery during the Great Depression.

In his 1937 proposal, Roosevelt suggested that for every sitting justice who was 70 years old or older, an additional justice could be appointed, effectively allowing him to appoint up to six new justices. His goal was to shift the balance of the Court in favor of his New Deal policies, as he believed that the existing justices were out of touch with the needs of the American people during such a critical time.

This plan faced significant backlash, both from the public and from political opponents, leading to concerns about judicial independence and the separation of powers. Ultimately, the plan failed to gain the necessary support in Congress, but it highlighted the complexities of the relationship between the executive branch and the judiciary in American government.