I detest the idea of lifetime appointments, but also dislike the idea of justices being put up for elections, as it’d render them too susceptible to political influences. Perhaps one 8 year term would be better.
"Hillary Clinton broke out in a vicious coughing fit about two-thirds of the way through a speech she gave in Harlem on Tuesday.
As she struggled to get it under control, first with water and then eventually a cough drop, Clinton riffed, "Too much to say," as the crowded auditorium at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture cheered her on.
Clinton, speaking to an incredibly supportive audience in her home state, suggested that Republican opposition to President Obama's plan to appoint a Supreme Court justice to take the late Antonin Scalia's seat is predicated on the inherent racism that has made Obama the enemy for the past seven years of his administration.
"That's in keeping with what we've heard all along, isn't it? Many Republicans talk in coded, racial language about takers and losers. They demonize President Obama and encourage the ugliest impulses of the paranoid fringe. This kind of hatred and bigotry has no place in our politics or our country."....
It also has problems. There is no perfect solution.
were it up to me the meaning of “The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour,” would mean that if a vote of both houses stated that a Justice due to a decision on the court was against the meaning of the Constitution and the president agreed (or was over ridden by 2/3) that member of the court would be removed from office.
No need to impeach, though the effect is similar. Just the peoples representative stating that your decision was bad behavior and your shall not make any more
It would not happen often but it would maybe keep all sides playing fair.
IF a dem congress tried to remove all of the conservatives they would KNOW that if it ever changed the pay back would bw swift and the other way as well.
“Perhaps one 8 year term would be better.”
Agree.
How about one ten year term, followed by Senate re-confirmation (or not), allowing a second ten year term, followed by retirement?
They would still be appointed and confirmed to get there. After that WE get to assess their performance.
I like that.
We elected our judges in TN after the governor and congress has appointed them at the state level. It’s a straight up or down vote, but the only problem is you don’t know their party or their records, unless you know the judge themselves.
We bounced anti-Death Penalty State Supreme Court Justice Penny White, we also most got Adolpho Birch, until he screamed racism. We went after Fed Judge John T Nixon on the same grounds, but since he’s a life time appointment we had to endure him delaying and over turning legit Death Sentences.
We have at least 100 on Death Row, many who have completed their state and federal appeals and are still under sentence of death for their heinous crimes, our RINO governor won’t sign the death warrant on even 1 of them.
1 is the Rapist/Killer David Keen of a 8 year old little Nikki Read, who he strangled to death with her own shoe laces, after he beat and raped her, then threw her blanked wrapped and tied body into the river. All his appeals are finished. 2 Juries found him worthy of death and DNA proved he did it.
I support term limits on Congress, reducing Senate to 4 year terms and both houses 2 terms only, NO house switching, no lobbying, no retirement, no perks. Reduce salary as they don’t work, their interns and lobbyist do the work. Ditto goes for Federal Justices. Would help stop some of this creeping socialism.