Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
In the never-boring circus of American politics, Retired Justice Stephen Breyer decided to toss in a juggling pin that has lawmakers and laypersons alike clashing heads; he’s throwing support behind the idea of term limits for Supreme Court Justices. “Out with the old, in with the… slightly less old?” he must be thinking. This paradigm-shifting endorsement begs the question – if someone who has been part of the highest court in the land thinks there should be an expiration date on serving justice, maybe, just maybe, there’s more to it than just ensuring a constant supply of new black robes.
The Breakdown
- Eternal Bench Warmers
- Turns out, Breyer suggests justices might get a tad too cozy after a few decades on the bench. Who knew? Life tenure seems to mean never having to say you’re retiring unless you’re planning on being immortal. Term limits could mean actually seeing a judge exit stage left before they need a magical portrait to age for them.
- Turns out, Breyer suggests justices might get a tad too cozy after a few decades on the bench. Who knew? Life tenure seems to mean never having to say you’re retiring unless you’re planning on being immortal. Term limits could mean actually seeing a judge exit stage left before they need a magical portrait to age for them.
- Fresh Faces or Fresh Fiascos?
- Young Bloods and Legal Buds
- Let’s point out the obvious: the term “youth movement” and Supreme Court rarely go hand in hand unless you count justices who remember using a rotary phone as ‘young bucks’. Is Breyer suggesting we might see justices who know what a hashtag is? #SupremeCourtTikTok anyone?
- Let’s point out the obvious: the term “youth movement” and Supreme Court rarely go hand in hand unless you count justices who remember using a rotary phone as ‘young bucks’. Is Breyer suggesting we might see justices who know what a hashtag is? #SupremeCourtTikTok anyone?
- Term Limits: A Partisan Piñata
- Both parties love the idea of term limits, especially when they’re out of power. It’s the ultimate political piñata – takes a good whack to get the sweet stuff out, and everyone wants a swing when they’re not the ones wearing the blindfold.
- Both parties love the idea of term limits, especially when they’re out of power. It’s the ultimate political piñata – takes a good whack to get the sweet stuff out, and everyone wants a swing when they’re not the ones wearing the blindfold.
- Legacy or Lame Duck?
- Supreme court justices leaving a legacy is as American as apple pie, but with term limits, we could see justices more concerned with becoming lame ducks than legal legends. Will they start sprinting through decisions like there’s a Black Friday sale in the judiciary?
- Supreme court justices leaving a legacy is as American as apple pie, but with term limits, we could see justices more concerned with becoming lame ducks than legal legends. Will they start sprinting through decisions like there’s a Black Friday sale in the judiciary?
The Counter
- Good Luck Changing the Constitution
- Breyer may as well be endorsing unicorn rights for all the ease of amending the Constitution. It’s a bit like suggesting you could easily swap the engine of a 747 mid-flight.
- Breyer may as well be endorsing unicorn rights for all the ease of amending the Constitution. It’s a bit like suggesting you could easily swap the engine of a 747 mid-flight.
- History, Shmistory
- Who needs over 200 years of tradition? Let’s face it, traditions are made to be broken, like phones or New Year’s resolutions. Or, apparently, the principles of the highest court in the land.
- Who needs over 200 years of tradition? Let’s face it, traditions are made to be broken, like phones or New Year’s resolutions. Or, apparently, the principles of the highest court in the land.
- Life Tenure: The Ultimate Job Security
- Life tenure is the dream; it’s the employment equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet that never kicks you out. Why would we want to deny justices the chance to grow old and wise – or just grow old – on the bench?
- Life tenure is the dream; it’s the employment equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet that never kicks you out. Why would we want to deny justices the chance to grow old and wise – or just grow old – on the bench?
- Partisan Ping Pong
- With term limits, the court could flip-flop more than a fish out of water or a politician’s promises. One can only imagine justices trying to keep up with the trend, swapping ideologies like they’re playing hot potato.
- With term limits, the court could flip-flop more than a fish out of water or a politician’s promises. One can only imagine justices trying to keep up with the trend, swapping ideologies like they’re playing hot potato.
- The Magic Number
- Eighteen years Breyer suggests. Because nothing says “You’ve had your fun” like the average age of a college freshman. “Hey, Justice, time for your freshman orientation!”
- Eighteen years Breyer suggests. Because nothing says “You’ve had your fun” like the average age of a college freshman. “Hey, Justice, time for your freshman orientation!”
The Hot Take
In the thrilling soap opera that is America’s justice system, term limits might just be the season-finale twist we didn’t know we needed. With the sands of time slipping through the hourglass of justice, perhaps what the Supreme Court needs is a dose of reality TV-style shake-ups.
Let’s get creative, folks. Try a lottery system, where every eighteen years, some lucky law graduate gets the ‘Judge for a Day’ ticket in their bar exam results. Or perhaps a Supreme Court justice reality show with live audience voting – “America’s Got Justices”, where the judges get judged.
In all seriousness, Breyer’s point has some merit. Justice might be blind, but it shouldn’t be allowed to go senile. Term limits could encourage a constantly renewed perspective on the law, reflecting the living, breathing society it serves. That is, if we can all agree on them, which might just be the ultimate punchline.
Source: Retired Justice Stephen Breyer Shows Support of Supreme Court Term Limits
