Supreme Court term limits

Manchin and Welch Propose Supreme Court Term Limits Amendment

The recently proposed constitutional amendment by Senators Manchin and Welch to establish term limits for Supreme Court justices is a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding the court’s composition and legitimacy. This amendment aims to address concerns about the court’s perceived political nature and dwindling public trust by imposing an 18-year term limit on newly appointed justices. This would lead to a roughly biennial turnover of justices, injecting a fresh perspective into the court’s deliberations while providing a degree of predictability in judicial appointments.

The senators’ proposal is presented as a means to restore public confidence in the Supreme Court, arguing that the current system contributes to the perception of the court as a purely political entity.… Continue reading