The past week's Supreme Court rulings demonstrate what a difference one member of the court can make. In a democracy, it's crazy that so much power is concentrated in one person. Something is wrong.

Last weekend in The Washington Post, law professor Jonathan Turley proposed a brilliant and practical solution.

He noted that "our highest court is so small that the views of individual justices have a distorting and idiosyncratic effect on our laws." He proposed that instead of nine justices, the court have 19.

A larger court would allow for "nominees with broader experience and ideas" and "decrease the importance of individual justices hewing so closely to party lines." Turley advocates getting to 19 gradually, each president appointing two additional justices a term.

There is strength in numbers. This reform would improve the stability and reputation of the court and its rulings.

Sen. Orrin Hatch has been on the Senate's Judiciary Committee forever, where he's championed showy but lost causes, such as constitutional amendments to ban flag burning and balance the budget.

This idea only requires a law, and it would make a big difference. I'd like our senior senator to work for a realistic and constructive solution for a change.

Michael Smith

Salt Lake City