Supreme Court term-limits amendment proposed by Sens. Manchin, Welch

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/07/supreme-court-term-limits-amendment-manchin-welch/

23 comments

  1. > Two senators have introduced a constitutional amendment that would establish term limits for Supreme Court justices, a long-shot escalation of the congressional effort to overhaul the nation’s highest court amid multiple ethics scandals and sinking public approval.

    > The amendment — introduced Thursday by Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin III (I-West Virginia) — **would impose 18-year term limits on new justices appointed to the court, so eventually there would be a new opening about every two years.**

    > Welch, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the goal of the amendment is to restore confidence in the high court and promote judicial independence. “Most people see the court as political. In fact, I do as well,” he said. “The question is, ‘How can we restore confidence?’”

    > **About two-thirds of Americans support imposing term limits on the justices, according to the results of the Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey released in September.**

    > Welch, who acknowledged that the amendment “won’t go anywhere this year,” said the measure is an opportunity for him and Manchin to launch a debate over Supreme Court term limits.

    [Gift link](https://wapo.st/3D4doPW)

  2. This actually might have had the slightest chance of making some kind of progress if Harris had won since Democrats might vote for it on principle and Republicans might vote for it to weaken any potential Democratic appointees.

    Zero chance now, no Republican is going to vote to diminish the strength of the 30+ year lock on the supreme court they just won in November.

  3. I agree with the 18 year term limit, but I would make the terms based on seat, not Justice, so that each seat’s term expires every 18 years, staggered to be set so that a seat is always up for a new appointment in every off-election year (i.e. 2025, 2027, 2029, etc.) This would include existing Supreme Court Justices, starting with the longest serving.

  4. Fuck Joe Manchin. We would be so much better off if him and his family weren’t greedy fucks.

  6. 18 years is still too long just make it 6 like Senators.

  7. This is just a massive waste of time because they know it’ll never pass. Glad these elected representatives of the people are wasting our tax dollars accomplishing nothing.

    ETA:
    /s.
    For those who need special help understanding.

  10. I think this is a great idea. I’d add let’s also do it for senators and congressmen. When the constitution was written it was assumed that no one would be a lifelong politician.

    They would go to congress and return to their farm.

    Sorry but we don’t need people in the senate for 60 years holding on at 90years old to power.

  11. Republicans will never support reform until they lose the majority.

  12. 1. Fuck Joe Manchin

    2. This is an attempt to tie up the Judiciary Committee’s schedule instead of approving Biden nominees.

    3. Fuck Joe Manchin

    4. This is also an attempt by Joe Manchin to pretend he gave a damn about fixing anything.

    5. Fuck Joe Manchin

  17. Wow, what a nice idea! It’s a shame it’s being implemented literally as they’re passing the reins to the fascists they helped elect by not even attempting to pass shit like this for four years.

  18. This is such a stupidly obvious and fair proposal that I’m convinced it’ll never happen. It is absolutely absurd that our current system allows for strategic retirements so that a partisan imbalance of the court can be indefinitely maintained.

  20. I’d be about this if they also did congressional term limits as well

  21. I bet it’ll work… 🙄 we are never going to fix anything by asking tyrants nicely to stop taking advantage of the system they specifically created to take advantage of. 

  22. The problem is that an apolitical judge will never be chosen for the Supreme Court. Just reliable voters on culture war issues.

    We need a system that rewards judges that carefully apply the law and are thoughtful in the rationale for each decision.

    It you put 9 really fair people in a room, they’re going to reach a better decision.

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