So, there’s a bunch of people with canes and wheelchairs who can’t remember their own names trying to dictate how our constitution is interpreted? That’s cool, a normal part of the American judicial process for the last 200+ years and that’s something that needs to change.
One of the most impactful checks and balances are term limits and every branch except the Supreme Court has those – once they get on they serve for life. Due to the lack of term limits someone who was growing up when blacks and whites were still segregated, before man had set foot on the moon, and before every had required students to attend school could theoretically be in the most powerful, uncheck position in the United States.
The Supreme Court is an important position, it has been that way for the last 200 years, setting limits and boundaries around the most important document in American history – the constitution. They’ve made some critical decisions such as okaying the trail of tears, segregation and slavery.
Due to the nature of the position I don’t believe Supreme Court justices should be shuffled out as regularly as the president, or congress; once every ten years seems like a fair amount of time. In ten years a lot of things can change in the world and an opinion once held in high regard like the immorality of gay marriage may become outdated, so the thought that justices can currently serve thirty, fifty or theoretically limitless terms is unfathomable.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and unfortunately there are no limits on how long the judiciaires serve; they’re appointed for life. There needs to be an amendment to the constitution to create a check on the power these nine justices have to shape our lives like a painter using a gavel in place of a paint brush, and maybe make a fairer tomorrow.
Ricky J. Smith 