1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Dear Members of Congress, Today, Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski introduced the Reform of Bench Eligibility Act — the ROBE Act — a constitutional amendment establishing 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices. We are writing to urge you to co-sponsor and support it without delay. Only 22% of Americans currently have significant confidence in the Supreme Court. That is not a partisan statistic. It is a crisis of legitimacy. The reasons are not hard to find. Justices have accepted luxury gifts from political donors with business before the Court. Six members of the bench attended a White House state dinner. One justice flew a “Stop the Steal” flag outside his home days after January 6th. And leaked internal memos have now revealed how the Court’s shadow docket — used to deliver more than 20 major rulings without oral arguments, written opinions, or public accountability — was invented and expanded by the Chief Justice himself. Lifetime appointments were designed to insulate justices from political pressure. Instead they have created justices who time their retirements to benefit their preferred party, serve for decades beyond any reasonable accountability, and behave as though they answer to no one. The ROBE Act fixes this. Eighteen-year terms ensure regular, predictable turnover. They reduce the political gamesmanship surrounding nominations. They apply to current justices — meaning the Court’s longest-serving and most ethically compromised members would finally face accountability. The Supreme Court’s legitimacy is not guaranteed. It is earned. Right now it is not being earned. Co-sponsor the ROBE Act. Support Congressman Olszewski’s amendment. Give the American people a Court they can trust again.