![]() Presidents shouldn’t have such disparate imprints on the Court. Bush, and Clinton each named two over two terms - and Jimmy Carter appointed none. Trump appointed three justices in his one term, while Obama, George W. That way, each president would nominate two justices per four-year term, putting an end to the inequality and unpredictability of the current system. With staggered terms, a new vacancy would open on the Court every two years. We think another element also makes sense: regular appointments. Job security and salaries would remain protected regardless of how the justices rule in particular cases, as required by the Constitution, preserving judicial independence. ![]() Under this reform, Congress would set the schedule for justices assuming senior status rather than letting them choose their own timing. As senior justices, they would hear cases on the lower federal courts, assist with judicial administration, and step in to hear Supreme Court cases when the Court is short-staffed due to a recusal or unexpected vacancy.Ī similar senior judge framework has been in place for more than a century in the lower federal courts and was applied to the justices in 1937. During the active phase, justices would decide cases on the Court’s docket as they do now. Here’s how this would work: After an 18-year active phase, justices would shift to a senior phase for the rest of their time on the bench. A new Brennan Center report, which I wrote with my colleague Michael Milov-Cordoba, outlines a solution to restore balance and accountability to our nation’s highest court: adopting 18-year terms and regularized appointments for Supreme Court justices. All the while, they are shaping policies and laws that can endure for generations. Some are likely to stay on the bench for as long as 35 years - covering nine presidential terms. It’s hard to overstate the Supreme Court’s power and impact - or the damage done by its now-ensconced conservative supermajority.Īs the Court has grown more powerful, so have individual justices, who now serve more than a decade longer on average than they used to. Alexander Hamilton wrote that the courts were the “least dangerous” branch of government. We’re in the final weeks of the Supreme Court’s term, waiting for rulings on affirmative action, LGBTQ+ rights, student loan forgiveness, and more. Attend the Brennan Legacy Awards Dinner.Advance Constitutional Change Show / hide.National Task Force on Democracy Reform & the Rule of Law. ![]() Government Targeting of Minority Communities Show / hide.Campaign Finance in the Courts Show / hide.Gerrymandering & Fair Representation Show / hide.Ensure Every American Can Vote Show / hide. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |