YourVoice.Now Summary
Transparency & AccountabilityFuture Supreme Court justices would serve 18 years, not life — the nine serving today would be exempt.
Transparency & Accountability
The bill sets an 18-year term for justices appointed after it becomes law. The nine justices on the Court today would keep their seats for life.
Today the Senate can simply not vote, and the seat stays open. Under this bill, a nominee the Senate ignores for 120 days would join the Court without a vote.
More about this bill
You would not notice this one in daily life. It changes how Supreme Court justices get their seats and how long they keep them. The president would name one new justice in the first and third year after each presidential election. Each new justice would serve 18 years on the nine-member Court. After that, the justice would move to "senior" status and hear cases only when the Chief Justice asks. The nine justices on the Court today would be exempt. They could serve for life, so the full change would take decades. If a seat opens early through death, disability, or removal, the newest senior justice would fill it. That fill-in would last until a new justice is named. The Senate would also face a deadline. If it does not vote on a nominee within 120 days, that nominee would join the Court anyway.
Congressional Summary
This bill establishes staggered, 18-year terms for Supreme Court Justices and limits the Senate's advice and consent authority in relation to the appointment of Justices.Specifically, the bill requires the President to appoint a Supreme Court Justice every two years. If the appointment of a Justice would result in more than nine Justices on the Court, then the nine most junior Justices shall make up the panel of Justices exercising judicial power in cases and controversies. Further, any Justice who has served a total of 18 years is deemed retired from regular service and may continue to serve as a Senior Justice. Senior Justices may continue to perform judicial duties assigned to them by the Chief Justice. However, no Justice appointed before the date of enactment shall be counted towards such panel, nor shall they be required to retire from regular active service.In the event of a vacancy on the Court, the Chief Justice must assign the Justice most recently designated as a Senior Justice to serve on the Court until the appointment of a new Justice.Additionally, the Senate's advice and consent authority is waived if the Senate does not act within 120 days of a Justice's nomination.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Action Date
- Date Added
- 2026-04-02
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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