How long is the term of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice?
Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution states that Justices "shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour." The term "good behavior" is understood to mean justices may serve for the remainder of their lives, unless they are impeached and convicted by Congress, resign or retire.
Note from history: The only Justice to be impeached was Associate Justice Samuel Chase in 1805.
This might be interesting: Samuel Chase was born on the 17th of April, 1741.His political views changed over his lifetime. In the last decades of his career, he became well known as a staunch Federalist. He was impeached on grounds of letting his partisan leanings affect his court decisions.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
40 Comments
Cheryl McMeekin
They need to be given limits just everybody else.
Marian Spitzig
May they all remain unbiased, but I have not seen that over the past 30 years.
Polly Culberson
I think a life term is too long. After 88 or 90, some brain cells must be missing and worn out.
nmcgirt
I.think at some point the aging process can come into play and could affect judgement and inability to make decisions rationally therefore, the issue of lifetime placement on the Supreme Court should be evaluated.
memros
Apparently, a big mistake.
lls
...this needs to change...I think 9 to 12 is long enough.
Stu
When they made it a lifetime appointment, life expectancy was 45 years. Needs to change.
Robert Rice
Too Fudging long in that worthless disgraceful Uncle C Thomas!
Tammi Brass
I actually just learned this today from an article I read about The Womens Right Movement & the first woman to a Supreme Court Justice.
Donna Smith
Pushed the wrong answer ...Oh well You Win some and You lose some.
andrew anna
Got it . I never heard of any certain years for supereme court justice.
Joe Cilia
After this question, I read more about Samuel Chase. He was a very interesting individual. He was impeached but not removed from office. He was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Sounds like President Washington made a good choice when he appointed Chase to our nation's highest court.
Jim Adams
The term of a SCOTUS judge was made a lifetime appointment so they would be immuned to outside influences. The sad reality today is they usually follow whatever their associated political party wants them to follow. It is intriguing however, how many republican judges have sided with the democrat judges compared to how few democrat judges (none in my adult lifetime) have sided with the republican judges.
bonnieview
Too easy
jeff barker
Get that plank out of your eye!
dlh
They are like all humanity - they have personal biases.
Gloria Fields
Agree that this should be changed!