Countering G.O.P. on Courts, Democrats Will Call for ‘Structural’ Change

WASHINGTON — Alarmed at Republicans’ success at reshaping the federal courts, Democrats plan to use their forthcoming party platform to push for “structural court reforms” to counter what they describe as a concerted Republican campaign to pack the judiciary with “unqualified, partisan judges.”

The platform language stops well short of saying what those changes should be. But backers of the plank, which was added during deliberations earlier this week, said the broad statement represents a significant advance toward beginning a conversation among Democrats about how to respond to the substantial imprint that President Trump and his conservative allies have made on the federal bench.

“I think it is a major turning point and a very important step,” said Pete Buttigieg, the former Democratic presidential contender who was a strong proponent of reconfiguring the Supreme Court during the primary campaign. “This shows the Democratic Party believes we need to undertake these kinds of reforms.”

The inclusion of the language in the statement of party goals was seen as particularly significant because former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the presumed nominee who is also a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been cool to the idea of instituting changes to the judicial branch. He has opposed adding seats to the Supreme Court — one idea pushed by the left.