The Supreme Court has a frayed connection to our democracy and demands reform. One way to make the high court more democratically accountable is through a constitutional amendment with two related provisions: make appointments regular and limit justices to 18-year terms. These reforms to the appointment system would help end strategic retirements and bitter partisan appointment fights that unduly politicize the court.

In this moment of bipartisan support for criminal justice reform, legislators and advocates should focus on how public defenders lack the resources necessary to properly defend indigent clients. By creating resource parity between prosecutors and public defenders, lawmakers and lawyers could help achieve transformative change and ensure indigent defendants get the equal justice they deserve. A new Brennan Center study outlines how.

Since 9/11, thousands of Americans have been unfairly placed on secret terror watchlists without a meaningful chance to get off them. In most cases, those targeted have been citizens of color, Muslims, and those who come from or travel to the Middle East. A landmark ruling this month may finally limit the government’s arbitrary, capricious, and constitutionally suspect tracking system.

There are some people behind bars in this country who are unforgettable—not just for what they have endured, but for the symbol they represent. The case of Sam Mandez is one of those. After reading about his ordeal, anyone who cares about criminal justice reform, or simple justice, should be rooting for Mandez as he begins his journey toward a life beyond bars.

Susan Rice was President Barack Obama’s national security advisor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In her new memoir, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For, Rice reveals pivotal moments from her career on the front lines of U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy with unflinching candor. In a conversation with Andrea Mitchell about her book, Rice will share her personal story as well as examine the current state of foreign affairs and the challenges facing American leadership. RSVP today!