“Supreme Court judges should have term limits.”

The debate over Supreme Court term limits centers on whether the current system of lifetime appointments is still appropriate for the modern era. While there are currently no limits on a justice's tenure—with average terms reaching over 28 years between 1993 and 2024—there is a growing push for reform, most notably a proposal for 18-year staggered terms.

### Arguments in Favor of Term Limits

Proponents argue that lifetime appointments have led to the excessive politicization of the Court. Key arguments include:

- Reducing Politicization: Fixed terms would create routine, planned appointments, reducing the high-stakes political battles that occur during unexpected vacancies. - Preventing Strategic Retirements: Term limits would eliminate "strategic retirement," where justices time their departure to ensure a president of their own political party appoints their successor. - Democratic Accountability: Fixed terms are seen as a way to enhance the Court's accountability to the public and modernize the judiciary. - Addressing Age and Health: Term limits would ensure a regular turnover of justices, preventing "mental decrepitude" or loss of stamina from affecting the bench.

### Arguments Against Term Limits

Opponents of term limits often focus on the traditional role of the judiciary and legal constraints:

- Judicial Independence: Lifetime appointments were designed to insulate justices from political pressure and the whims of the electorate, ensuring they can make decisions based on law rather than political survival. - Constitutionality: A primary argument is that term limits may be unconstitutional because Article III of the Constitution suggests justices hold their offices during "good Behaviour," which is widely interpreted as a lifetime appointment.

### Proposed Solutions

To address these concerns, some scholars suggest a compromise where justices serve a fixed term (such as 18 years) on the Supreme Court but can maintain a role in the federal judiciary on "senior status" afterward.