I find our process of nominating, vetting and appointing Supreme Court justices a ridiculous and embarrassing affair. Much of this process stems from concerns regarding lifetime terms, as well as the impact left- or right-leaning justices have on legislative affairs for the decades that follow. It seems each appointment only gets messier, with each party responding with reckless and dishonorable retaliation.
Given that our Constitution left absent many details regarding the appointment, term and even number of justices to serve on our highest court, I propose we adopt a Constitutional Amendment to clarify these operations. Pacing and limiting the term justices serve may reduce the political wrangling of their appointments, as well as allow our highest court to keep pace with the evolution of social affairs and doctrine.
An Amendment to the Constitution, as proposed:
The Supreme Court shall be composed of nine justices, one appointed every second year and serving a term of eighteen years. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the vacated justice's term. Judges serving at the ratification of this amendment be shall dismissed by order of seniority.
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