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alp227

(32,023 posts)
Fri Sep 25, 2020, 12:37 AM Sep 2020

Democrats prepare bill limiting U.S. Supreme Court justice terms to 18 years [View all]

Source: Reuters

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.

“It would save the country a lot of agony and help lower the temperature over fights for the court that go to the fault lines of cultural issues and is one of the primary things tearing at our social fabric,” said California U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, who plans to introduce the legislation on Tuesday, along with Representatives Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts and Don Beyer of Virginia.

Partly due to rising life expectancies, justices serve increasingly long tenures, on average now more than 25 years.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-termlimits/democrats-prepare-bill-limiting-u-s-supreme-court-justice-terms-to-18-years-idUSKCN26F3L3

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Don't really think that's a good idea. I bet it fails in House. Hoyt Sep 2020 #1
Great Idea reggaehead Sep 2020 #18
Dumb idea. Archae Sep 2020 #2
court justices are not elected. think of more as a retirement age except term not age nt msongs Sep 2020 #4
Ten Years.... LovingA2andMI Sep 2020 #3
You would think Republicans would get behind this. Lasher Sep 2020 #6
I too am wondering if 18 years is still too long FreddyWhite Sep 2020 #16
I've been thinking about this for awhile reggaehead Sep 2020 #19
18 is associated with chai in Hebrew - and chai means life karynnj Sep 2020 #50
Constitution says lifetime terms qazplm135 Sep 2020 #5
From the article PSPS Sep 2020 #9
Guess who has the final say in challenging this? Polybius Sep 2020 #12
That doesn't avoid the constitutional concerns qazplm135 Sep 2020 #29
It looks like they're trying to get around that... Salviati Sep 2020 #10
If you are rotated out permanently qazplm135 Sep 2020 #30
It actually doesn't use the word lifetime and is like most things vague. Statistical Sep 2020 #45
except that qazplm135 Sep 2020 #47
Correct. roamer65 Sep 2020 #51
I hope they are doing some useful things also. marybourg Sep 2020 #7
Make it a 12 year term with an option for a single 12 year extension if two thirds of the House cstanleytech Sep 2020 #8
I always thought every official in govt should be limited to 12 years. padah513 Sep 2020 #23
Actually House members should be switched to 6 year terms and Senators to 8 year cstanleytech Sep 2020 #24
No way would I support this Polybius Sep 2020 #11
Wrong. Add more justices to the bench. Add DC and PR as states. Yavin4 Sep 2020 #13
Nope. oldsoftie Sep 2020 #25
Why not? Yavin4 Sep 2020 #35
Because then its just a tit-for-tat after that. We'll end up with 75 judges. oldsoftie Sep 2020 #38
They have power now, and they're using it to their advantage. Yavin4 Sep 2020 #39
But they're not doing "x". They had it all for 2 yrs & didnt add judges. oldsoftie Sep 2020 #42
So, how do you rectify their hypocrisy? Yavin4 Sep 2020 #43
Great, One Each 2 Years n/t DallasNE Sep 2020 #14
Great, One Each 2 Years n/t DallasNE Sep 2020 #15
I say go for it! FreddyWhite Sep 2020 #17
Isn't a better threat to let them know that once they take power they will increase the # of sits? Escurumbele Sep 2020 #22
Exercise in futility. LogicFirst Sep 2020 #20
I would rather see a bill that assures there is a balance of power in the Supreme Court Escurumbele Sep 2020 #21
The Constitution doesn't recognize parties Coleman Sep 2020 #28
The public would support this overwhelmingly. Just as they do term limits for politicians. oldsoftie Sep 2020 #26
I doubt it could get the necessary support in the states onenote Sep 2020 #49
Popular bucolic_frolic Sep 2020 #27
funny that... Javaman Sep 2020 #31
yes, term limits for every politician RicROC Sep 2020 #32
It would further politicize the Court onenote Sep 2020 #33
I tend to agree. crickets Sep 2020 #40
That's not good enough... dajoki Sep 2020 #34
Idiotic virtue signaling The Mouth Sep 2020 #36
I still favor the National Court of Appeals proposal.... lastlib Sep 2020 #37
Not constitutional FBaggins Sep 2020 #41
It would probably be good to read at least something about this Hortensis Sep 2020 #44
So what will happen to Thomas and Breyer? Statistical Sep 2020 #46
Nothing onenote Sep 2020 #48
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