Democrats prepare bill limiting U.S. Supreme Court justice terms to 18 years

[livingston]

Democrats prepare bill limiting U.S. Supreme Court justice terms to 18 years
September 24, 2020

By Andrew Chung

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Democrats in of the House of Representatives will introduce a bill next week to limit the tenure of U.S. Supreme Court justices to 18 years from current lifetime appointments, in a bid to reduce partisan warring over vacancies and preserve the court’s legitimacy.

The new bill, seen by Reuters, would allow every president to nominate two justices per four-year term and comes amid heightened political tensions as Republican President Donald Trump prepares to announce his third pick for the Supreme Court after the death on Sept. 18 of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with just 40 days to go until the Nov. 3 election.
The bill – the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act – is the first to try to set Supreme Court term limits by statute, according to Gabe Roth, the executive director of Fix the Court, a judicial transparency group whose campaign for high court term limits has been gaining attention.

Democrats prepare bill limiting U.S. Supreme Court justice terms to 18 years | One America News Network

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[Dr. Evil]

Here's an idea. Why don't they limit their own terms?

 

[Chevusa]

I guess they’ve never heard of Presidential Veto powers.
Check that. I believe this would require a Constitutional Amendment. Yea. This is just more BS for headlines like when they tried to limit the Presidents power to attack another country. It holds no place and goes against the Constitution.

 

[Calculon]

They see all 3 branches slipping away. Overplayed their hand last 5 years and trying to salvage something. Fuck them all.

 

[cgrutt]

They see all 3 branches slipping away. Overplayed their hand last 5 years and trying to salvage something. Fuck them all.

More like 55 years...

That said personally I wouldn't be opposed to term limits on all government positions. RGB should never have been on SCOTUS with health conditions and apparent bias that was demonstrated in her final years. Some legacy.

 

[dwa12479]

Id actually be in favor of a set term for a SCOTUS judge, with the caveat that it's a 1 and done. That would eliminate problems like we had with RBG where she was WELL past her time to retire. Make it a long term, 18, 25 whatever. But that's it. Then you're out, retire, and fade away into obscurity.

 

[cgrutt]

8-12 years for any elected or appointed position. Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Sheriffs, Governors, Attorney Generals, Directors of FBI, etc. Do your public service and go home. Heck, extend it to family members too. No need for Dynasties in The Republic!

 

[Blimey]

Not sure this is the answer but something has to be done. Multi cancer victim in their 80’s trying to hang on desperately until another president comes along is ludicrous.

 

[tirwin1]

They see all 3 branches slipping away. Overplayed their hand last 5 years and trying to salvage something. Fuck them all.

Actually I disagree. The judicial and executive branches have taken on far more power in the past 75 years. The legislative branch has ceded their authority to both. Cowardly legislators have gladly allowed the other 2 branches to exert more authority so they don't have to take the blame for tough decisions. My understanding is the framers considered the legislative branch 'first among equals.'. They have devolved into a distant third. Despite good intentions this idea won't fix the problem. Congress needs to step up. This is unlikely unfortunately given the character of most legislators.

 

[Podmonkey]

Why does the House bother? They have to know the Senate would never pass any of their bills.

 

[tirwin1]

The bill is proof the supreme court has become too powerful and needs to be reined in.

 

[Chevusa]

Not sure this is the answer but something has to be done. Multi cancer victim in their 80’s trying to hang on desperately until another president comes along is ludicrous.

Something similar to 25A?

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

You should only be allowed like 12 years total cumulative time in any paid political office. Local, state, federal.

Term limits. We need them.


Political office was never meant to be a lucrative career. It was for concerned citizens to get involved with government, contribute then return to the private field.

 

[Cooolone]

Agreed...

No SCOTUS term limits without congressional term limits!

Glad they opened the door!!!

Let's see who's got the balls to propose that one!

 

[BDinPutnam]

Why does the House bother? They have to know the Senate would never pass any of their bills.

Right now?

Sure.

In a year? Or three?

 

[Acer-m14]

wouldn't this require a constitutional convention ..

 

[Xae289]

I don't know about term limits for the SCOTUS. I think I'd prefer age limits. Statutorily forced resignation after a justice reaches their 78th birthday. If their birthday occurs when the court is in session, their resignation will take effect at the end of that session.

Of course, this is all unlikely, but something like that would come right after term limits for the legislature in my personal constitutional reform wish list.

 

[GOPerfect]

As long as all laws and the Constitution are followed, I am more than fine with term limits.

It would be near impossible to say a cumulative amount of years though, the way the Judges serve would make a combined time nearly impossible to fill open slots with well qualified candidates.

 

[Modean]

But they are perfectly ok with being able to hold office for 30-40 years themselves. Typical hypocrisy.

 

[Blimey]

I don't know about term limits for the SCOTUS. I think I'd prefer age limits. Statutorily forced resignation after a justice reaches their 78th birthday. If their birthday occurs when the court is in session, their resignation will take effect at the end of that session.

Of course, this is all unlikely, but something like that would come right after term limits for the legislature in my personal constitutional reform wish list.

They'll just start nominating teenagers. The only way to avoid that would be a term limit of some sort.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Why does the House bother? They have to know the Senate would never pass any of their bills.

Garand standing.

 

[dsdmmat]

As usual the Dems think a “law“ can override a constitutional clause.
they would have to amend the constitution to limit the term of a Supreme Court judge. If they went that route They would be open to term limits themselves. This is all someone’s idea to stir the pot and get the sheep to think they have more authority than they actually do.

besides without a constitutional amendment the Supreme Court would be able strike it Down as unconstitutional. Dumb Dems

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I don't know about term limits for the SCOTUS. I think I'd prefer age limits. Statutorily forced resignation after a justice reaches their 78th birthday. If their birthday occurs when the court is in session, their resignation will take effect at the end of that session.

Of course, this is all unlikely, but something like that would come right after term limits for the legislature in my personal constitutional reform wish list.

I don't trust the mental acuity and reasoning of elderly frail potentially senile people determining our legal precedents for the country.


I understand having wisdom and experience but at some point a person's cognitive and reasoning abilities decline and we shouldn't have them in such powerful positions at advanced ages.

I love my grandma's dearly. They are both just north of 80 and what I would consider in the upper percentile of elderly for their mental acuity and being "with it". And as much as I love them and admire them, I mean this respectfully, no chance in hell should they be in positions where their decision making affects the country's judicial system.

 

[Celt]

Here's an idea. Why don't they limit their own terms?

Exactly.

No more than 8 years, and no lobbying jobs for 10 years after. I hope Trump uses this opportunity to push congressional term limits like he has said in the past..

 

[Catskillkid]

I don't know about term limits for the SCOTUS. I think I'd prefer age limits. Statutorily forced resignation after a justice reaches their 78th birthday. If their birthday occurs when the court is in session, their resignation will take effect at the end of that session.

Of course, this is all unlikely, but something like that would come right after term limits for the legislature in my personal constitutional reform wish list.

In NYS judges have a mandatory retirement age of 70 (no term limits that I'm aware of). I'd like to see something like that.

 

[Blimey]

I don't trust the mental acuity and reasoning of elderly frail potentially senile people determining our legal precedents for the country.


I understand having wisdom and experience but at some point a person's cognitive and reasoning abilities decline and we shouldn't have them in such powerful positions at advanced ages.

I love my grandma's dearly. They are both just north of 80 and what I would consider in the upper percentile of elderly for their mental acuity and being "with it". And as much as I love them and admire them, I mean this respectfully, no chance in hell should they be in positions where their decision making affects the country's judicial system.

Of course they shouldn’t.

I also think as people get older a great many become far less able or willing to look at nuance.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Even if they could do this, unless the dems held on to power forever, this would negate their idea of stacking the court.

 

[@thewheels]

I don't know about term limits for the SCOTUS. I think I'd prefer age limits. Statutorily forced resignation after a justice reaches their 78th birthday. If their birthday occurs when the court is in session, their resignation will take effect at the end of that session.

Of course, this is all unlikely, but something like that would come right after term limits for the legislature in my personal constitutional reform wish list.

Agree on the age limit.
The founders would have been against sick and decrepit judges that can't stay awake struggling on until they succumbed to old age or disease.

 

[soylentBlue]

Even if they could do this, unless the dems held on to power forever, this would negate their idea of stacking the court.

I think the Dems have made it clear that the next time they are in power, they will ensure they will never lose power ever again. Whatever laws need to be written, however many Justices need to be added, however many cities need to burn - whatever it takes.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

I think the Dems have made it clear that the next time they are in power, they will ensure they will never lose power ever again. Whatever laws need to be written, however many Justices need to be added, however many cities need to burn - whatever it takes.

Indeed they have.