Should Supreme Court Justices have term limits?

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, but it's not above debate over how it should be run. With the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016 and the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, some are calling for term limits for the top judges in the land. Others object to changing the lifetime appointments to the court, saying it would be difficult to amend the Constituion to do so. Should Justices get the gavel after 18 years? 10 years? Longer? Or should they serve for life or until resignation?


Why Did The Framers Give Lifetime Tenure To Supreme Court Justices?

Scalia's Death Revives Call For Supreme Court Term Limits

Is It Time To Reconsider Lifetime Appointments To The Supreme Court?

Additional resources to think about

Should we elect our Supreme Court Justices?
This America From Scratch video asks if, instead of term limits, should we elect our Supreme Court Justices instead?

Justice Kagan on SCOTUS Term Limits: "Maybe"
Hear what Justice Elaina Kagan has to say about term limits for SCOTUS.

Justice Breyer on Supreme Court Term Limits
Hear what Justice Stephen Breyer has to say about term limits.

Reuters/Ipsos Poll: Americans favor Supreme Court term limits
This poll from 2015 discusses what Americans think about term limits for the Supreme Court.

Florida House Wants Justices Gone After 12 Years
The United States Supreme Court isn't the only Supreme Court talking about term limits. Head down south to see how the issue has affected Florida's highest court.

Should the U.S. Supreme Court have term limits?
This article from Fast Company talks about how one non-partisan, grassroots organization is looking to change the Supreme Court - and what it means for the future.

Why Supreme Court Term Limits Won't Work and What to Do Instead
This opinion piece from Slate is an interesting look into the debate over Supreme Court term limits and what reforms should or shouldn't happen.

Supreme Decision
Put the gavel in the hands of students as they play this game from iCivics, an educational learning platform created and designed with the guidance of Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.


Who created this message?

  • What kind of “text” is it?


What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?

  • What’s the emotional appeal?
  • What makes it seem “real?”
  • What's the emotional appeal? Persuasive devices used?

How might different people understand this message differently from me?

  • How many other interpretations could there be?
  • How could we hear about them?
  • How can you explain the different responses?


  • What ideas or perspectives are left out?
  • How would you find what’s missing?


Why is this message being sent?

  • What's being sold in this message? What's being told? 
  • Who is served by or  benefits from the message
    – the public?
    – private interests?
    – individuals?
    – institutions?


Should Supreme Court Justices have term limits?


How was your Thinkalong experience?
