Dear MoveOn member,
Have you been feeling the weight of recent Supreme Court decisions? They're more than just rulings—they're shaking the very pillars of our democracy. In the past few years, we have witnessed outrageous rulings by the Supreme Court justices, from overturning Roe v. Wade to ending affirmative action in higher education to delivering blows to LGBTQ+ rights.1 These decisions are not a reflection of our society, and the data confirms it. Our rights are being stripped out by a Supreme Court that has a record-low approval rating with the public.2
Our Supreme Court is facing a crisis of accountability and legitimacy. We live in a time when our Supreme Court is full of scandals. Justices like Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas have shown a blatant disregard for the public's interest, engaging in questionable actions and unethical behavior that betray the trust placed in them.3 We deserve Supreme Court justices who demonstrate independent and fair rule of the law, to regain the public's confidence and repair the state of our democracy.
Will you sign the petition demanding a reform of our Supreme Court justices' term limits?
Supreme Court justices have life tenure, meaning they serve until they die, resign, retire, or are impeached and removed from office. That is a long time for a person in a democratic society to serve! Especially when a justice like Thomas, serving for over 32 years, is involved in scandals of corruption for accepting lavish gifts from conservative megadonors with little to no accountability.4
Without term limits, MAGA Republicans like Trump can pack the Supreme Court with far-right judges who will make harmful decisions that will affect our lives and rights to bodily autonomy for generations.
The public's opinions have changed dramatically in the last few decades, from our views on reproductive rights and gender roles to our views on capitalism and systemic racism. Our current system of unbounded tenure for justices allows a single justice to shape the direction of the law for generations, without regard for the evolving views of our society. We must put an end to this undemocratic practice and ensure that our highest court remains accountable to the people it serves. Add your name to say no to lifelong Supreme Court justice tenures!
It's time to take action and demand change. We can't allow justices to wield tremendous power for decades with little oversight. By establishing 18-year terms and regularized appointments, we can ensure that justices do not remain on the bench indefinitely, insulated from public accountability.
An 18-year term limit strikes a balance between stability and adaptability. It ensures that justices serve long enough to gain experience and wisdom but prevents them from staying in power indefinitely.5
Thanks for all you do.
–Valeria, Isbah, Jensine, Aliya, and the rest of the team.
Sources:
1. "The Major Supreme Court Decisions in 2023," The New York Times, June 29, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/177266?t=10&akid=380940%2E40999114%2E4r5Kh7
2. “Supreme Court Approval Holds at Record Low,” Gallup, August 2, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/189281?t=12&akid=380940%2E40999114%2E4r5Kh7
3. "Chief Justice Declines to Testify Before Congress Over Ethics Concerns," The New York Times, April 25, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/174370?t=14&akid=380940%2E40999114%2E4r5Kh7
4. Ibid.
5. “Supreme Court Term Limits,” Brennan Center For Justice, June 20, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/189282?t=16&akid=380940%2E40999114%2E4r5Kh7
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