News In Brief

October 22, 1984

Rehnquist says packing of Supreme Court is 'sensible'

Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist plunged into the political debate over appointments to the high court Friday, saying ''sensible'' presidents try to pack it with justices embracing their views.

''A president who sets out to pack the court seeks to appoint people to the court who are sympathetic to his political or philosophical principles,'' he said.

''There is no reason in the world why a president should not do this,'' Rehnquist said.