Our country has issues and where does that list start? Many of those issues seem simply out of our control. That is not to say we should not work on them, but affecting changes to them can appear to be monumental. And here’s another one: term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices.
Article III Section 1 of the Constitution says: “The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour,” which, in practice, means that justices are appointed for life. In an attempt to de-politicize the courts, these justices, while holding positions as powerful as can be in our country, are not elected; they are appointed. Once appointed, they are not accountable to anyone for their decisions. This needs to change. Term limits are needed. Whatever a justice’s political orientation, race, gender, religious affiliation, it should not matter.
They should have 16-year terms. That is twice as long as the president, not nearly as long as many in Congress and would do away with any sense of complacency that accrues knowing that when you get up in the morning, you have a job.
They would still be appointed, still be relatively unaccountable for their decisions but they would not hold the position for life.
Our system of governance, as remarkable as it is, has flaws. This issue is a flaw that has been identified, a flaw for which it is hard to make a case in support.
Josh Joswick
Bayfield
