- United States
- Ga.
- Letter
Please co-sponsor and pass S.J.Res.120 proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to normalize vacancies and appointments for justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Promote Regular Turnover
Term limits ensure a steady infusion of new perspectives and ideas, preventing stagnation in judicial philosophy.
Regular turnover can reflect evolving societal norms and values more effectively.
Reduce Partisan Tensions
Lifetime appointments heighten stakes in Supreme Court nominations, leading to highly contentious confirmation battles.
Term limits could standardize appointments, reducing the political drama surrounding each vacancy.
Prevent Extended Influence of Outdated Views
Justices serve for decades, sometimes well beyond the societal context in which they were appointed.
Term limits would ensure that no single justice disproportionately influences the Court's direction over generations.
Address Health and Competence Concerns
Aging justices may face health challenges, potentially affecting their performance.
Term limits provide a built-in mechanism for transition without relying on unpredictable retirements or deaths.
Ensure Fair Distribution Across Presidencies
Without term limits, some presidents appoint numerous justices, while others appoint none.
A fixed term system could align appointments with presidential terms, promoting fairness.
Increase Public Trust
The perception of impartiality is crucial for the judiciary's legitimacy.
Term limits could counteract perceptions of justices as politically entrenched figures, bolstering public confidence.
Adapt to Modern Lifespans
Lifetime appointments were established when life expectancies were much shorter.
In the modern era, justices often serve 30-40 years, a situation the framers may not have anticipated.