The commission said the proposal of imposing term limits on Supreme Court justices had «the most widespread and bipartisan support.»
A commission tasked with studying potential changes to the Supreme Court seems to be in favor of implementing term limits for justices, but not court packing. Under the Constitution, Supreme Court justices have life tenure, but the commission described term limits as the proposal that appears to have «the most widespread and bipartisan support.» Three current justices, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Elena Kagan, «have noted the potential benefits of term limits,» the commission said. It cited experts recommending an 18-year term limit for justices, although it was divided over whether Congress has the ability to create a term limit for justices by statute or if a constitutional amendment would be required. Progressives called upon President Joe Biden to make reforms to the Supreme Court, including term limits and demanding he pack the court to potentially strike down challenges to voting rights, abortion rights and civil liberties. However, both the commission and Biden were against expanding the court and appointing more justices. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below. The 36-member bipartisan commission, largely composed of academics, has been studying court reform and holding hearings, but it was not charged with making recommendations under the White House order that created it. As a result, much of the some 200 pages of materials the commission released Thursday night are history and context for reform proposals. A final report from the committee, which was meeting Friday, is expected in about a month and would go to the president then. Even when the commission does finish its work, however, any proposals for change would be met with serious political headwinds particularly with midterm elections looming and the chance that Democrats could lose control of Congress.
