UNITED STATES — Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski is introducing a constitutional amendment that would establish term limits for Supreme Court Justices.
On Monday, Olszewski is introducing the Reform of Bench Eligibility (ROBE) Act, which would establish 18-year term limits for justices.
The announcement comes after the Supreme Court recently limited the scope of the Voting Rights Act amid a redistricting battle in Louisiana.
Faith in the Court depends on its legitimacy as a fair and independent institution,” Congressman Olszewski said. “Recent rulings that have thrown out decades of legal precedent, combined with ethically dubious behavior by sitting judges, are testing that faith. Justices should not be hobnobbing at White House dinners and flying on the private jets of friends who have business before the Court. By establishing term limits, we can reduce the political gamesmanship surrounding appointments, restore balance to the process, and strengthen the integrity of the Court.
The ROBE Act would apply to current Justices and include some provisions for a transition to the new system.
Under the current process, Supreme Court Justices serve lifetime appointments, and the most recent tenure lengths have reached the longest in American history.
Olszewski argues that retirement decisions have increasingly become more strategic and are often aligned with the political preferences of the sitting president.
Additionally, he said the confirmation process has been reshaped, as presidents are incentivized to nominate younger, more ideologically predictable candidates to secure long-term influence over the court.
Olszewski also cited partisan behavior from sitting judges, including the presence of six members of the bench at a recent White House state dinner.
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