Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., unveiled a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would impose term limits on the number of years Supreme Court justices can serve to help "restore confidence in the Court."
The amendment would institute nonrenewable, 18-year terms for new justices, with a new term starting every two years. It would not affect the current justices.
"The current lifetime appointment structure is broken and fuels polarizing confirmation battles and political posturing that has eroded public confidence in the highest court in our land. Our amendment maintains that there shall never be more than nine Justices and would gradually create regular vacancies on the Court, allowing the President to appoint a new Justice every two years with the advice and consent of the United States Senate," Manchin, who is retiring at the end of the year, said in a release.
Added Welch: "Taking action to restore public trust in our nation's most powerful Court is as urgent as it is necessary. Setting term limits for Supreme Court Justices will cut down on political gamesmanship, and is a commonsense reform supported by a majority of Americans."
A survey conducted in June by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that a solid majority of Americans said Supreme Court justices are more likely to be guided by their own ideology rather than serving as neutral arbiters of government authority.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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