In the book "How Democracies Die," author Steven Levitsky discusses how authoritarian governments can undermine the judicial system. When a government is unable to eliminate independent judges, it may resort to court packing as a strategy to exert control over the judiciary. This involves increasing the number of judges to sway court decisions in favor of the government, thus compromising the judiciary's independence and effectiveness.

Levitsky emphasizes the importance of an independent judiciary in the preservation of democracy. By manipulating the court system through tactics like court packing, governments can erode democratic norms and limit accountability, leading to the deterioration of democratic institutions and principles.