Kamala Put Supreme Court In Danger?
On Monday, the Harris-Walz campaign unveiled its long-awaited policy positions, laying out a plan that could potentially lead to the forced retirement of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas by the end of next year, and possibly two additional Republican-appointed justices before the decade is out. This policy announcement came just a day before Vice President Kamala Harris is set to face former President Donald Trump on the debate stage.
The proposed reforms include “commonsense” changes such as instituting term limits for Supreme Court justices. However, the specifics of how long a justice would serve before being compelled to retire remain vague. The Harris-Walz campaign’s website appears to focus more on criticizing Trump for the three justices he appointed during his presidency, rather than detailing the mechanics of their reform plan.
The campaign has signaled a commitment to a broader initiative aimed at reshaping the Supreme Court. According to a recent statement by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Harris’s stance is aligned with his legislation, the Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act (Senate Bill 3096). This bill proposes imposing 18-year term limits on justices, a stark contrast to the lifetime appointments they currently hold.
The legislation would require presidents to nominate and the Senate to confirm a new justice every two years. Under this proposal, only the nine most recently appointed justices would actively hear cases, while the remaining justices would shift to a semi-retired status, contributing to appellate cases as necessary. If enacted, this could mean replacing Justice Thomas by 2025, Chief Justice John Roberts by 2027, and potentially Justice Samuel Alito if Harris wins a second term.
Despite the bold nature of this plan, legal experts caution that implementing term limits may face significant constitutional challenges. Article 3 of the Constitution guarantees justices their positions during “good behavior,” implying that they can only be removed through impeachment and conviction.
The Harris-Walz campaign’s policy rollout also includes support for other controversial measures like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act—bills that Republicans argue could undermine election security and freedom of speech.
