Stephen Spaulding @stevespaulding.bsky.social · 21/05/2025Justices are holding public power on average far longer than our Constitution’s framers imagined. The average tenure over history is 16 years. Since 1970, it's been 26 years. Now some justices could sit on the high court for upwards of 35 years. 3/ 164
Stephen Spaulding @stevespaulding.bsky.social · 21/05/2025Lifetime appointments also open the door to strategic retirements—leaving the appearance that when a justice leaves the bench, they're prolonging their influence over the Court by choosing their successor. This damages judicial independence. 4/ 162
Stephen Spaulding @stevespaulding.bsky.social · 21/05/2025Term limits are a key solution to preserve the independence of the Court—18 year terms insulate justices from political pressure—while bringing an appropriate level of democratic accountability, w/ regular turnover to ensure fresh ideas & new perspectives. 5/ 1103
