Supreme Court justices are on the court for life unless they are impeached due to misbehavior while on the court. Do you think this is a good system? Why or why not?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an opinion on the system of lifetime appointments for Supreme Court justices, specifically whether it is considered a good system and the reasoning behind that opinion.
Answer
Pros: Independence; Cons: Accountability issues.
The Supreme Court justices serving for life can ensure independence and consistency, preventing political influence. However, it can also lead to issues like lack of accountability and slow adaptation to social changes. Critics argue for term limits to balance independence with accountability.
Answer for screen readers
The Supreme Court justices serving for life can ensure independence and consistency, preventing political influence. However, it can also lead to issues like lack of accountability and slow adaptation to social changes. Critics argue for term limits to balance independence with accountability.
More Information
Lifetime appointments help justices remain impartial; however, the lack of a set retirement age could prevent new perspectives from entering and evolving the court's decisions.
Tips
Consider how term limits might affect judicial independence and whether mechanisms for accountability could be strengthened without compromising impartiality.
Sources
- ArtIII.S1.10.2.3 Good Behavior Clause Doctrine - constitution.congress.gov
- Can U.S. Supreme Court judges be impeached? - quora.com
- Enforceable Ethics for the Supreme Court | Harvard Law Review - harvardlawreview.org
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