John,

The Supreme Court isn’t serving our democracy.

The founders would not recognize the modern incarnation of the Court. It wields far more power on far more issues than it did in the 18th century. And it does so without adequate checks and balances. The individual justices hold this power longer than they ever have. For the first 180 years of U.S. history, justices served an average of approximately 15 years. In recent years, justices have served an average of 26 years.

Momentum for reform is growing. Numerous polls have shown overwhelming bipartisan support for term limits and an enforceable code of ethics. The president and vice president have both announced their support for real change.

The speakers will include Cristina Rodríguez, Leighton Homer Surbeck Professor of Law at Yale Law School and co-chair of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States; Diane Wood, Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, director of the American Law Institute, and senior lecturer at University of Chicago Law School; and Alicia Bannon, director of the Brennan Center Judiciary Program and editor in chief of State Court Report. Brennan Center President Michael Waldman will lead the discussion.

Don’t miss this timely conversation on Supreme Court reform,

The Brennan Center team