By Abby McGuire
Despite high democrat support, the Senate Judiciary Committee did not pass the “Limiting Supreme Courts Act” into law, illustrating the prevalence of Republican voices in the Senate. The bill would have had massive ramifications for the Supreme Court, altering their term limits from lifelong to a mere 20 years, with the exception of the Chief Justice, who is granted 25 years in office. The majority of support for the bill came from the Democratic Party, notably senators Blumenthal (CT-Sr.), Hirono (HI-Jr.), and Duckworth (IL-Jr.).
Sen. Blumenthal criticized the current construction of the Supreme Court, citing that politicization is a constant in American politics and arguing that senators should not be afraid of its representation within the court. Sen. Hirono supported Blumenthal’s claims and brought it back to the people, explaining that the American public depends on the Supreme Court to be a strong force and the current status is creating massive distrust.
Sen. Duckworth critiqued the American approach to the Supreme Court, stating, “If you have nothing to hide, you should not be scared. We need to see that our judges are not kings; they are people too…we should hold officials to the highest standard.”
Halfway through the session, the Judiciary decided to request Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for questioning. The framers of the bill hoped his testimony would emphasize the need for shorter term limits, as he is the subject of controversy due to his affiliation with President Donald Trump. Thomas instead emphasized that he does not support this bill and that judges should be allowed to remain in their stations. When questioned about bribes, Thomas became frustrated and emphasized his humanity apart from his role as a justice and his right to form friendships with other politicians.
When approached about the act, Judge Thomas declined to comment.
Senator Mitch McConnell (KY-Sr.) criticized the act, arguing that it will create a judicial climate with too much turnover and that judges will be more willing to act outside of the law due to their reduced time in office. Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN-Sr.) was similarly critical of the bill, arguing that people are voting in presidents who maintain the current limits.
Senator John Kennedy (LA-Jr.) presented the most damning criticism of the Bill, arguing that it is not the role of Congress to decide how the Judiciary branch operates and that it imbalances how many justices are appointed by the president, which could result in court packing.
Although the voting was slight at 16 to 14, the act was shot down. Nevertheless, the fight for judicial reform within the senate is far from over.