WASHINGTON — A pair of senators introduced a resolution Monday that would restrict U.S. Supreme Court justices to 18-year terms. 

What You Need To Know

  • Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., proposed a constitutional amendment that would limit U.S. Supreme Court justices to 18-year terms

  • They are proposing a system that would cycle in a new justice every two years

  • The amendment would begin after a transition period and would not affect the tenure of currently sitting justices

  • Under the proposed system, the Supreme Court would never have more than nine justices and would gradually create regular vacancies on the court

Sens. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va, and Peter Welch, D-Vt., are proposing a system that would cycle in a new justice every two years. The constitutional amendment would begin after a transition period and would not affect the tenure of currently sitting justices.

“The current lifetime appointment structure is broken and fuels polarizing confirmation battles and political posturing that has eroded public confidence in the highest court in our land,” Manchin said in a statement. 

In October, the Annenberg Public Policy Center found 56% of American disapprove of the Supreme Court and said they trust it either “a little” or “not at all” to act in their best interest. In September, a separate Annenberg survey found 68% of American adults support term limits.

“Our amendment maintains that there shall never be more than nine Justices and would gradually create regular vacancies on the Court, allowing the President to appoint a new Justice every two years with the advice and consent of the United States Senate,” Manchin said.

The resolution comes as conservatives hold a 6-3 majority, following the appointment of three Supreme Court justices during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term.