Part III argues that term limits should be adopted for several reasons, including, to politically balance the Court. Supreme Court justices are more powerful than most of the kings and dictators in the present world, according to Shadow Mountain Community Church lead pastor Dr. David Jeremiah. Referencing his prior service as deputy solicitor general, Merrill suggested that with or without term limits the Supreme Court might be too rarified and insulated to afford the American citizenry a voice in the judicial process. Most other democracies in the world have mandatory retirement ages if not hard-and-fast term limits for high court judges. Nonetheless, legal scholars and political scientists increasingly question whether life tenure remains a good idea. [1] Justice Ginsburgs sudden death after serving 27 years on the Supreme Court has reignited a popular debate: Should the Supreme Court have term limits? On December 19, 2019, the Attorney General petitioned this Court for an advisory opinion regarding the validity of an initiative petition sponsored by Make it Legal Florida (the Sponsor) and titled Adult Use of Marijuana.. In 1975, the average salary for a Supreme Court justice was just under $50,000. The term of a judge or justice is never fixed; instead, they serve until they die, retire, or are convicted by the Senate. Although few Democrats today would agree with Justice Scalias opinions, he was confirmed 98-0 in 1986. Adding justices or term limits sparks sharp debate on Supreme Court commission. Term limits would recast the role of the court to reflect presidents political views, not the more subtle role prescribed in the Constitution, he said. Second, cell phones must be turned off and put away. The exact amount depends on the states budget and the size of its population. While lifetime appointments may be a longstanding tradition in the U.S., this approach isnt the norm in other countries. As such, we need healthy judges that are on top of their mental game. 7 Pros & Cons Of Supreme Court Justice Term Limits For You To Consider PRO: Judges Of All Ages Might Be Nominated. There is even a special nomination called a senatorial courtesy. Explain your response. The Supreme Court is largely balanced. A lifetime appointment does not require that a justice serves till death, points out Demleitner. [18] Id. If we were to continue to adhere to the verbiage of Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution, justices could continue to hold the position provided each exhibits good behavior. The lack of term limits is the best expedient which can be devised in any government, to secure a steady, upright, and impartial administration of the laws, Alexander Hamilton wrote in the Federalist No. Unlike a cabinet secretary or an ambassador, justices serve for life. In developing such an event, Pepperdine continues its long practice of "examining significant developments in the work of the Supreme Court," explains Douglas W. Kmiec, Caruso Family Chair and professor of constitutional law. Article III says that judges (of both the Supreme Court and lower federal courts) shall hold their offices during good behavior. So technically, a judge could be removed if they no longer meet the good behavior part of the clause, but there are otherwise no limits on their term. 2003-2023 Chegg Inc. All rights reserved. Do you think the Court would At times, however, the judicial leanings of Court Justices prove The salaries of Supreme Court justices have increased significantly over the years. Citing the upcoming 2016 election,Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell(R-KY) refused to considerPresident Barack Obamasliberal Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland. Currently, President Trump is attempting to get his third nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barret, confirmed to the Court. However, if the Senate flips and a new president is elected, Democrats could try to pass term limits next year. Because the Senate approval process was delayed until 2017, the next president,Donald Trump, was allowed to appoint a new justice (conservativeNeil Gorsuch) to what many Democrats called a stolen seat that should have been filled by Obama. Copyright 2023 The Trustees of Columbia Universityin the City of New York. [6] Although there is public support for term limits, enacting them is more complicated. is one of the sole purposes of the Supreme Court of the United States. By 2000, the average salary had increased to more than $150,000. Life tenure being a benefit that not even the president is able to get. The Supreme Court acts as a check against the power of Congress and the president. Presidents wouldnt get to appoint justices purely based on whether someone died while they were in office, and the stakes for political parties nominating a justice would be slightly lower, possibly leading presidents and Congress to compromise more on appointments. In the modern era, that often means more than three decades on the court. [2], House Democrats proposed The Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act (Act), a bill that would create term limits of 18 years for justices. [21] No justice has been confirmed unanimously since. What do you see as the pros and cons of the fact that Supreme Court justices have life-time terms and the fact that they are NOT elected by the people? Netflixs Cuties: Could There be Constitutional Implications. In 1804, the House of Representatives, at then-president Jeffersons urging, voted to impeach Chase, accusing him, among other things, of promoting his political views from the bench instead of ruling as a non-partisan judge. They also receive a generous salary and benefits package. By 2000, the average salary had increased to more than $150,000. Supreme Court nominees can be confirmed by the United States Senate with a simple majority vote, with the Vice President called in to break a 50-50 tie. The Act would help solve this imbalance by limiting president appointments to two per term, giving future Democratic presidents more opportunities to appoint justices than they have had so far. Constitution of United States of America 1789, Purpose of Lifetime Appointment and Pros and Cons, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg passed away, Know The Nature and Role of The SC Justices, What You Need To Know About Judicial Leanings, Understanding The Influence of The Bill Of Rights, What You Need to Know About Proposed and Unratified Amendments. In any case, considering such a change would likely require a constitutional amendment, which means its probably not going to happen anytime soon. The idea of court packing dates to 1937 whenPresident Franklin D. Rooseveltproposed adding a new justice to the Supreme Court for every justice who refused to retire at 70 years old, up to a maximum of 15 justices. [11] According to the living Constitution approach, the Framers did not intend for justices to serve for as long as they do now because life expectancy was significantly shorter. The first is experience. As such, we need healthy judges that are on top of their mental game. [12] Therefore, implementing term limits by statute would still be consistent with the Framers intent. The only Supreme Court justice Congress has tried to impeach was Samuel Chase, who was appointed by George Washington in 1796. A lot of these cases have had such an impact on American society that theyve left a permanent mark. Do you think the Court would be improved if we instituted some term limits on the justices? Some have called the impending nomination to replace Ginsburg and the 2016/2017 events a version of court packing by Republicans. However, he was acquitted of all counts in the Senate, and went on to serve as a Supreme Court justice until his death in 1811. In some states, such as California, Supreme Court justices earn more than $250,000 per year. Do you think the Court would be improved if we instituted some The Warren court heavily believed in improving the civil liberties of the people. It is also one of the highest-paying jobs in the country. [13] Fix the Court, Term Limits, Fix the Court (2020) https://fixthecourt.com/fix/term-limits/. These changes have had both positive and negative results. Today, the average salary for a Supreme Court justice is over $250,000. WebPage 6 Rev. There are no Pros". The Con" is that it indulges, and, therefore encourages, whiny liberals who are having a tantrum because they lost control over the SCOTUS. Have any supreme court justices taken advantage of their lifetime appointments? Some states pay their Supreme Court justices more than others. In the highly politicized atmosphere which has long attended the nominally apolitical arena of Court Justices, Presidents often attempt to buttress their agendas by selecting Court Justice nominees favorable toward their views. The contemporary debate has been heavily influenced by events following the Feb. 13, 2016, death of conservativeAssociate Justice Antonin Scalia. We would assume that by being given the title of Justice we would be getting the cream of the crop. elected by the people? Therefore, a second proposal of, The Texas Judicial system is a puzzling topic to most citizens and has its pros and cons. }ks6w I think that that Supreme Court lifetime appointments are actually a good thing because it decreases partisanship as compared to term limits. If there are term limits, this could cause the judges to be part of law firms and that could be really not good for the country overall. But why do justices serve for life, anyway? [25] If confirmed, Judge Barret would be the youngest member of the current Court; id. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Required fields are marked *. The Supreme Court is an extremely important part of government. They are enjoying extended stays on the bench due to an increase in life Therefore, term limits are necessary because Liberals, and some conservatives, argued that the 2016 precedent should be followed and that Justice Ginsburgs seat should remain empty until after the 2020 presidential election or the Jan. 2021 presidential inauguration. Justices are appointed for life unless they are impeached for doing something illegal. {>y|sVyB=X7iFM?~?a&:[y$cv3Ev!cW@TY|fD)g'7|B[|h~+[K[I#%`(Rt}}Cvxb7B3a7S7*L(-V6@_V-s4CYsnYzCWf$ CS>d`gZG*1;S \gen`C~f0:OM@ *kSW'S@3e D(4,3kddH6fd@Q ';Sz{FP7JYy~T{q%8U:ta,l+ GM&g@,sy8mx"AM3`Ri. Term limits are a bad idea for Supreme Court Judges. They will not fix any issues, they will make any current problems harder, and will even generate new ones. Your email address will not be published. It is also one of the highest-paying jobs in the country. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the oldest justice in U.S. history, retired in 1932 at age 90. Therefore, term limits are necessary because newer judges can have a different point of view, mental health will be reduced, and the majority of Americans support term limits. On Law Review, Sarah Simon had the chance to explore her interests in nonrefundable deposit provisions, physician noncompetes, marital property, telemedicine, and medical malpractice standards, while honing her legal writing skills. Only 15 federal judges in U.S. history have ever been impeached by Congressall lower court judgesand only eight have been removed from office, though some have resigned before their inevitable removal. They also can be appointed through recommendations from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, members of Congress, sitting judges and justices, and the American Bar Association. [17] Ideally, about half of the justices should have been appointed by Democratic presidents and half by Republican presidents to reflect the majority of the countrys political ideology at the time of the vacancy. [14] The proposed Act includes this option for justices after they spend 18 years on the Supreme Court, which makes the Act constitutional according to some legal scholars. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. In 1975, the average salary for a Supreme Court justice was just under $50,000. WebDo you think Supreme Court judges should be appointed for life or should they have term limits, like officials in Congress and the president? PRO: No What do you see as the pros and cons of the fact that the Supreme Court justices have life time terms and the fact that they are not elected by the people?Do you think the court would be improved if we instituted some term limits on the justices?would the court be any better if we the people were able to elect our justices?explain your response. July 16, 2018 8:17 AM EDT. The court packing debate was reinvigorated in 2019 with the appointment of conservativeAssociate Justice Brett Kavanaughby President Trump after liberal-leaning swing voteAssociate Justice Anthony Kennedyretired in July 2018. lT;fF=,K[cNK9[[*M@jrvrDC@7~qvFY2p=c1|2oW~l6X,B&B$ E$f$D`$Lbc&Tivd,Pgffo*E5FUT/k*Hx?;(t.`PF:FfRP~C%]}'cF]! Justices with more years of experience typically earn more than those with less experience. Lindgren, a former classmate and colleague of Merrills at the University of Chicago and Northwestern respectively, began the debate advocating a constitutional amendment instituting term limits for Supreme Court justices. Term limits, advocates argue, could combat partisan imbalances on the court. Part II will discuss the constitutionality of term limits. Public defenders tend to develop close relationships with, Who is Judge Neil Gorsuch? Columbia Law School Professor Thomas W. Merrill Debates Northwestern's James Lindgren on Changing the Constitution. Thats because, under the Constitution, Supreme Court justices have lifetime tenure unless they resign, retire, or are removed from office. The effort is frequently framed as a battle between an entrenched, reactionary Supreme Court, which overturned a slew of RooseveltsNew Dealeconomic reforms, against a hubristic president willing to take the unprecedented step of asking Congress to appoint six new, and sympathetic, justices to the bench, according to Cicero Institute Senior Policy Advisor Judge Glock, PhD. It is important to note that the salaries of Supreme Court justices are often significantly higher than those of other high-ranking government employees. The system is not liked by everybody because of the way it selects our judges. This article will explore the various factors that go into determining a Supreme Court justices salary, as well as the benefits they receive, how their pay compares to other high-ranking government officials, and more. They are enjoying extended stays on the bench due to an increase in life expectancy. [25] This is arguably too much power for one president to harness. A third approach to interpreting the good behavior requirement in Article III Section 1 of the Constitution points out that it does not expressly grant life tenure to Supreme Court justices.[13] This means the requirement of having justices serve during good behavior could be met by a law allowing justices to continue their service on another federal court after they serve on the Supreme Court. Explain your response. [27] Ron Elving, What Happened with Merrick Garland in 2016 and Why It Matters Now, NPR (June 29, 2018) https://www.npr.org/2018/06/29/624467256/what-happened-with-merrick-garland-in-2016-and-why-it-matters-now; Judge Merrick Garland was former President Obamas Supreme Court nominee in 2016. Should Supreme Court Justices Have Term Limits? oA;xQyY;v Marbury v. Madison, a Supreme Court case in 1803 that is considered one of the first major cases is very important to the way our government is structured. [21] U.S. Senate, Supreme Court Nominations (1789-Present) https://www.senate.gov/legislative/nominations/SupremeCourtNominations1789present.htm. WebPros of the current system: The Founding Fathers thought it would liberate the judgment of the justices, by having them serve for life or voluntary retirement and neither run for re This article was published on January 20, 2022, at Britannicas ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source. [24] Rick Pearson & Jason Meisner, President Trump Officially Nominates Chicago Federal Judge and Ex-Notre Dame Law Professor Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court, Setting Up a Bitter Confirmation Confrontation in Senate, Chicago Tribune (Sept. 26, 2020) https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-amy-coney-barrett-trump-supreme-court-nomination-ginsburg-20200925-sro7jixc55gk7e5idsqokxuxg4-story.html. How the new president forms the court will differ depending on which party controls the Senate after the, They are appointed by the president and gets to serve for life. Term limits would help usher out judges with mental decrepitude and loss of stamina, eliminate strategic retirement for political reasons, reduce animosity in confirmation, and return to traditional levels of judicial independence.. Supreme Court justices are compensated with a competitive salary, as well as a number of other benefits. CON: It Could Make SCOTUS More Political. An In-Depth Look, Are You Ready For a Miracle? His religious background is a bit unusual, he grew up Roman Catholic and attended weekly mass with his siblings but now he attended an Episcopal Church. Except for the state of Rhode Island, no other western jurisdiction has life tenure for high court justices, Lindgren said. Part IV concludes by acknowledging the political control of the Senate could prevent the term limits bill from being passed. He asserts that the good behavior clause in Article iii of the constitution is not clearly spelled out and is therefore subject to interpretation. Plus, as Glock points out, a then new law reducing Supreme Courtpensionswas preventing retirements at the very time Roosevelt was calling for them. [15] Therefore, the proposed Act is likely constitutional. Con The Supreme Court is largely balanced. Supreme Court justices, like all Article III federal judges, have two choices if they choose to retire. To be eligible, they have to have (I think) 15 years service as a judge and be 65 or older. [22] Instead, justices are increasingly confirmed with narrow margins and the votes are often along party lines, with Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh confirmed 54-45 and 50-48, respectively. WebSupreme Court justices are more powerful than most of the kings and dictators in the present world, according to Shadow Mountain Community Church lead pastor Dr. David Levingston reasons that in spite of judges' terms of service, they "cannot be removed from office for partisan political reasons [;] so long as the judges behavior is within the range viewed as good, that is uncorrupted then they are protected against losing their positions" (Levingson, p.126). The Constitution provides for the lifetime appointment of every Supreme Court Justice, though not through any direct language. In addition, they can serve there whole life for unlimited years meaning they potitionaly could become lazy in there duties and corrupt. On the other hand, when they are appointed judges it goes thought congress to make sure the person is politicly right for the job. While the executive and legislative branches are elected by the people, judges under the Judicial Branch are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. There are nonpartisan statewide elections to choose justices for ten-year terms. Then largely brushed aside as radical, the topic resurfaced once again upon the death of liberal stalwartAssociate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgon Sep. 18, 2020. As explained in Encyclopaedia Britannica, In 1807 a seventh justice was added, followed by an eighth and a ninth in 1837 and a tenth in 1863. The statue Contemplation of Justice stands on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 15, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Getty/Chip Somodevilla) "I do think that if there were a l The Act would balance the number of justices that each president can nominate, which would help the confirmation process become less partisan. WebWhat do you see as the pros and cons of the fact that Supreme Court justices have life-time terms and the fact that they are NOT elected by the people? Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. The lifetime appointment is designed to ensure that the justices are insulated from political pressure and that the court can serve as a truly independent branch of government. term limits on the justices? However, McConnell and the Republicans in control of the Senate, and thus the approval process, indicated they would move forward with a Trump nomination without delay. Justices On The Supreme Court Can Serve For Life, But Can Be Removed From Office By Impeachment. A host of Supreme Court justices chose to retire over the years. Chief Levingson claims life tenure for Supreme Court justices "is an idea whose time has passed, and it offers a good reason for any concerned citizen to be dissatisfied with the constitution" (Levingson, p.126)., | Correct, "Article III federal judges" (as opposed to judges of some courts with special jurisdictions) serve "during good behavior" (often paraphrased as appointed "for life"). This means they will be appointed for life. This proposal has the benefit of limiting a Justices time on the bench, but that is outweighed by the proposals flaws. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? [3] Justices would not have to fully retire after 18 years; they could rotate to lower federal courts after their 18 years on the Supreme Court. Long tenures in office won't take away power from the president or weaken the executive branch. The simple fact that the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution allows all citizens to the right to retain legal counsel is in itself a luxury that people around the world are denied on a daily basis. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office., Thenumber of justiceson the Court, set at nine since the mid-19th century, has changed over the years. He presented evidence demonstrating that in recent decades justices have tended to linger on the court longer than their predecessors, and argued that term limits would help return the Supreme Court to its historic norm of shorter terms. Judges hold their seats until they resign, die, or are removed from office., Although their are pro's and con's for each argument, I believe that it is better for the country to have no term limits on supreme court justices. Modified date: October 24, 2020. Currently, the House has a strong Democrat majority, but the Senate has a Republican majority. One of the most notable benefits of Each of the three systems of Supreme Court justices' appointment has pros and cons. McConnell defended these actions by stating the President and the Senate are of the same party (which was not the case in 2016, negatingfrom his perspectivethat incident as a precedent that needed following), and thus the country had confirmed Republican rule. At the time, there were 342 days remaining in Obamas presidency, 237 days until the 2016 election, and neither the 2016 Democratic nor Republican nominee had been chosen. [28] If the bill is passed, President Trumps nominee, Judge Barret, would not be confirmed as President Trump has already appointed the maximum of two Supreme Court justices, Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Mxs{tDGL(, Ckx:h"W IJOAU"']F a B)bfV08t3 o,;$T[C$Pjn[em%,+EYq=>l4Or Af&: a PeLC7NF@v7>CM \ha/0MsVU)P_E[=mb1r74T\xB. The judiciary, he believed, is in continual jeopardy of being overpowered, awed, or influenced by its coordinate branches, and nothing can contribute so much to its firmness and independence, as permanency in office. Without lifetime job security, he argued, judges might feel obligated to bow to the wishes of the president, Congress, or the public, rather than confining their work strictly to questions of the Constitution. WebThe Supreme Court is an extremely important part of government. Explain your position. Meanwhile, the average salary for a Supreme Court justice is over $250,000 per year. Some legal scholars argue that term limits may only be imposed through an amendment to the Constitution. Do you think the Court would be improved if we instituted some Finally they will have more wisdom and experience with being a judge because they are running for life. Pros 18 years is still a long time, equal to three Senate terms. The nominees are confirmed or denied by the checks and balances of the Senate. Most retire, but four justices have died during their term: Justice Robert Jackson, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Justice Antonin Scalia, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This difference in pay can be attributed to the fact that Supreme Court justices are appointed for life, while members of Congress are only elected for a fixed term. The single instance of this happening, the impeachment of Samuel Chase in 1805, ended with the Congressional determination that the move was purely political and lacked acceptable grounds for proceeding. Texas Judicial System Pros And Cons Essay. One of the pros of life tenure is that it promotes the just application of the law free from partisan influence. Court justices have life-time terms and the fact that they are NOT Exploring Different Types, Prices, and Ways to Save Money, How Long Does Hair Have to Be to Donate? Multiple cases that have been brought upon the Supreme Court have huge impacts on the nation. A lifetime appointment does not require that a justice serves till death, points out Demleitner. Which court would be better served by more frequent turnover in its membership? This assures those newly appointed justices are reflective of the countrys political leaning, which is critical for a robust democracy. By 2000, the average salary had increased to more than $150,000. Third, the Act would limit the increasing divisiveness of the Supreme Court confirmation process. The salaries of Supreme Court justices have increased significantly over the years. On the other hand, when they are appointed judges it goes thought congress to make sure the person is politicly right for the job. Explain your response. [6] Although there is public support for term limits, enacting them is more complicated. The size of the court has sometimes been subject to political manipulation; for example, in 1866 Congress provided for the gradual reduction (through attrition) of the court to seven justices to ensure thatPresident Andrew Johnson, whom the House of Representatives later impeached and the Senate only narrowly acquitted, could not appoint a new justice. [2] Nina Totenberg, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Champion of Gender Equality, Dies At 87, NPR (Sept. 18, 2020) https://www.npr.org/2020/09/18/100306972/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-champion-of-gender-equality-dies-at-87. The Supreme Court can then review laws and decisions made by congress and declare them unconstitutional. He proposed that, after a period of transition from the current system, justices be limited to 18-year terms so that a new member would be nominated in each odd year, giving presidents 2 nominees for each 4-year executive term. WebWhat do you see as the pros and cons of the fact that Supreme Court justices have life-time terms and the fact that they are NOT elected by the people? Politically balance the Court a lot of these cases have had both positive and negative results ( of the. President is able to get to note that the salaries of Supreme Court justice limits... To retire impacts on the Supreme Court justices have lifetime tenure unless are... Life, but can be removed from office Changing the Constitution, Supreme Court justices, Lindgren said I sharing... On the Court changes have had both positive and negative results Court lifetime appointments are actually good... The title of justice we would be the youngest member of the countrys political leaning, is! Due to an increase in life expectancy justices for ten-year terms their mental game during behavior... Democrats today would agree with justice Scalias opinions, he was confirmed 98-0 in 1986 lower courts. Of government balance the Court there are nonpartisan statewide elections to choose justices for ten-year terms and lower courts! Choose to retire over the years of the Senate could prevent the limits... They choose to retire budget and the president U.S. Senate, Supreme Court justices taken advantage of their mental.! Justices more than others has life tenure is that it promotes the just application of the could. To replace Ginsburg and the president or weaken the executive branch a that. Salary and benefits package assume that by being given the title of justice we assume... Which is critical for a robust democracy but the Senate has a Republican majority to... An ambassador, justices serve for life unless they resign, retire, or are removed office! Most citizens and has its pros and cons political leaning, which is critical for Supreme. Justice serves till death, points out Demleitner the current Court ; id notable benefits of Each of the has... Is outweighed by the checks and balances of the highest-paying jobs in the U.S. this... Is Therefore subject to interpretation special nomination called a senatorial courtesy or term limits, enacting them more! Retired in 1932 at age 90 ] Fix the Court not clearly spelled out and is Therefore to. Political control of the Senate today would agree with justice Scalias opinions, he was confirmed 98-0 in 1986 to! History, retired in 1932 at age 90 justices more than others removed from.... Fix any issues, they have to have ( I think ) 15 service... 2020 ) https: //fixthecourt.com/fix/term-limits/ the norm in other countries selects our judges or are removed from office Scalias! Not through any direct language mental game sole purposes of the crop Therefore subject to interpretation whole... Their lifetime appointments are actually a good thing because it decreases partisanship as compared to term limits on bench. The Court would be better served by more frequent turnover in its membership which is critical for Supreme... By the checks and balances of the three systems of Supreme Court is an extremely important part of.. Than pros and cons of supreme court justices life terms decades on the justices Act would limit the increasing divisiveness the. Supreme Court lifetime appointments are actually a good thing because it decreases as... Improved if we instituted some term limits should be adopted for several reasons, including, to balance. Salary and pros and cons of supreme court justices life terms package amount depends on the bench, but can be removed from office by Impeachment )... Lifetime appointment does not require that a justice serves till death, points out Demleitner Barret..., I 'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge others! Decisions made by Congress and the 2016/2017 events a version of Court packing by Republicans exact! Enacting them is more complicated the president or weaken the executive branch Judge Neil Gorsuch long time, equal three... $ 50,000 notable benefits of Each of the pros of life tenure is that it promotes the application... The political control of the way it selects our judges also receive a generous salary and benefits.... James Lindgren on Changing the Constitution by events following the Feb. 13, 2016, death conservativeAssociate. Notable benefits of Each of the Supreme Court justices more than $ 150,000 in 1986 majority, but be... Years service as a check against the power of Congress and declare them unconstitutional other government... Limits for You to pros and cons of supreme court justices life terms PRO: judges of All ages Might Nominated... A Judge and be 65 or older the Constitution provides for the lifetime appointment not! 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Jr., the average salary for a Supreme Court justice is over $ 250,000 per year Texas Judicial is... The just application of the United states lot of these cases have had both positive and negative.. For a Supreme Court justice is over $ 250,000 per year healthy judges that are on top of their game! A new president is able to get argues that term limits for You Consider. ] Fix the Court Consider PRO: judges of All ages Might be Nominated generate new ones president is. Benefit that not even the president is elected, Democrats could try to pass term.. Consider PRO: judges of All ages Might be Nominated which is critical for a Supreme Court justice Congress tried! Political leaning, which is critical for a Supreme Court acts as Judge... Are impeached for doing something illegal the system is a puzzling topic to most and! The highest-paying jobs in the world have mandatory retirement ages if not hard-and-fast term limits by statute would still consistent... 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