Georgia Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson, a strong supporter of Supreme Court reform, argues that term limits for judges are a way to eliminate the “potential for long-term corruption and decline” that currently exists on the high court. said.
“Term limits are a way to create a process that eliminates the potential for long-term corruption and decay from corporate corruption, at a time when there is no other way to fix the court other than impeachment and conviction of judges,” Johnson said Thursday. told FOX News Digital in an interview.
“And even if we can't impeach and convict Donald Trump, we should remove corrupt Supreme Court justices if they are being forced into that position by doing the bidding of right-wing forces. You certainly won't be able to do that.''It's very early days. ”
Mr. Johnson, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, previously worked with Democrats in both chambers to propose court reform legislation, both to expand the courts and to limit terms for judges. In recent Congresses, Mr. Johnson introduced the Supreme Court Tenure and Retirement Modernization Act (TERM), which would impose 18-year term limits on judges.
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Georgia Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson said term limits for Supreme Court justices are a way to eliminate “the potential for long-term corruption and decline.” (Doug Mills/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
In May 2023, Johnson joined Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.), Tina Smith (Minnesota), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler (D.Y.). ), joined by Representative Cori Bush and others. Mississippi Democrat and California Democrat Adam Schiff exchanged opinions as they reintroduced the Judiciary Act of 2023, which would expand the Supreme Court to 13 justices. The nine-judge court currently has an overwhelming majority of conservatives.
“We want to prevent this type of corruption and decay from ever hitting the Supreme Court again,” Johnson said. “And term limits allow us to do that.”
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Johnson went on to say that tenured justices “remove responsibility and get to do whatever they want to do,” adding that the court “is free to do whatever they want just because they're serving as third co-judges.” “A club of kings and queens who can do anything.” It is an equal branch of government. ”
President Biden issued a statement in late July outlining three specific Supreme Court reforms, one of which was to ask Congress to approve term limits. Vice President Harris said in a statement that the reforms are being proposed because of “a clear crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court.” (AP/Jacqueline Martin)
President Biden has previously expressed support for such reforms, issuing a statement in late July outlining three specific reforms, one of which called for Congress to approve term limits. Vice President Harris echoed Biden's sentiments, saying the reforms are being proposed because of “a clear crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court.”
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Johnson said he had not yet directly discussed implementing these reforms with Harris, with the vice president likely to be elected to the Oval Office in November, but that Harris was “aware of the challenges we face.'' I am aware of it,” he said.
“She supports initiatives like my bill,” Johnson said. “So I look forward to having future conversations with, hopefully, the president-elect and future president Kamala Harris and her team.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.
Johnson argued that life-term judges “have no accountability and can do whatever they want.” (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Prime Minister Johnson acknowledged that the court reform bill would face a tough battle to pass, and he expects the Senate to block it with a filibuster.
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“We're playing the long game, and no matter how long it takes, this bill will be on the table,” he said.
