The debate on setting term limits or age restrictions for the United States Supreme Court Justices has found a notable proponent in recently retired Justice Stephen Breyer. On a recent NBC “Meet the Press” appearance, Breyer voiced his approval for long-term limits on Supreme Court Justices, a notion gaining traction amidst concerns about the current system of life tenure.
Breyer stated, “I don’t think that’s harmful. If you had long terms, for example, they’d have to be long. Why long? Because I don’t think you want someone who’s appointed to the Supreme Court to be thinking about his next job.” His suggestion is grounded in the belief that imposing limits could spare Justices the challenging decision of when to retire, a dilemma that Breyer himself faced before stepping down in 2022. “I think it would have helped, in my case. It would have avoided, for me, going through difficult decisions when you retire. What’s the right time? And so, that would be okay,” Breyer reflected.
Breyer’s stance aligns with a significant portion of the American public, as revealed by a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Approximately two-thirds of Americans favor instituting either term limits or a mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court Justices, highlighting the issue’s bipartisan appeal. This poll comes in the wake of the court’s polarizing decisions, including the reversal of Roe v. Wade, which has provoked sharp criticism and led to a decline in public confidence in the court.
Despite his support for term limits, Breyer has avoided direct commentary on the court’s recent rulings, emphasizing the importance of refraining from criticizing or praising decisions after retiring from the bench. “I’m not going to answer that. Why? Because I think one of the really unfortunate things I could do is retire from the court and then sit here and criticize particular cases or not criticize them,” he explained during the interview.
As the public debate on term limits continues, and the Supreme Court faces increasing scrutiny over its composition and decision-making, the input of retired Justices like Breyer provides a unique perspective that fuels the ongoing discussion about the future of America’s highest court.
Relevant articles:
– Breyer indicates support for age limits for Supreme Court Justices
– Former Justice Stephen Breyer signals support for term and age limits in Supreme Court, New York Post, Sun, 24 Mar 2024 16:10:36 GMT
– Retired Justice Stephen Breyer signals support for age and term limits in the Supreme Court, Washington Examiner, Sun, 24 Mar 2024 13:57:16 GMT
– NORC poll: 2 in 3 in US favor term limits for justices, AP-NORC, Tue, 11 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT