Blast From the Past: I posted this three years ago from yesterday.
Forget Term Limits and Retirement Age. Congress Should Add a MINIMUM Age Requirement for the Supreme Court. Say, 65.
https://similarworlds.com/politics/4377753-Forget-Term-Limits-and-Retirement-Age-Congress
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Which of the current justices would have reached 65 when appointed?
Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice? No, he was 43 when sworn in. (Bush 41 nominee)
Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice? No. she was 48 when sworn in. (Trump nominee)
Neil M. Gorsuch, Associate Justice? No. he was 49 when sworn in. (Trump nominee)
Elena Kagan, Associate Justice? No, she was 50 when sworn in. (Obama nominee)
John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States? Nope. He was 50 when sworn in. (Bush 43 nominee)
Ketanji Brown Jackson, Associate Justice? No, she was 51 when sworn in. (Biden nominee)
Brett M. Kavanaugh, Associate Justice? No, he was 53 when sworn in. (Trump nominee)
Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice? No, she was 54 when sworn in. (Obama nominee)
Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Associate Justice? No, he was 56 when sworn in. (Bush 43 nominee)
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FYI:
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney was 59 when sworn in. (Jackson nominee). He served on the Court for 28 years.
Associate Justice Louis Brendais was 59 when sworn in. (Wilson nominee). He served on the Court for 22 years.
Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall was 59 when sworn in. (L. Johnson nominee). He served on the Court for 23 years.
Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was 60 when sworn in. (Clinton nominee) She served on the Court for 27 years.
Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was 61 when sworn in (T. Roosevelt nominee). He served on the Court for 29 years.
Associate Justice Hugo Black was 61 when sworn in (F. Roosevelt nominee). He served on the Court for 34 years.
Associate Justice Harry Blackmun was 61 when sworn in. (Nixon nominee) He served on the Court for 24 years.
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At age 65 (or even 60), a judge (if nominated) will likely have a long paper trail of decisions. A senator (if nominated) will have likely have a long voting record. Senators (their constituents, the president and the media) will have a reasonable expectation of the nominee. No more Senate show hearings and no more focus on what movies s/he rented.
https://similarworlds.com/politics/4377753-Forget-Term-Limits-and-Retirement-Age-Congress
---
Which of the current justices would have reached 65 when appointed?
Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice? No, he was 43 when sworn in. (Bush 41 nominee)
Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice? No. she was 48 when sworn in. (Trump nominee)
Neil M. Gorsuch, Associate Justice? No. he was 49 when sworn in. (Trump nominee)
Elena Kagan, Associate Justice? No, she was 50 when sworn in. (Obama nominee)
John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States? Nope. He was 50 when sworn in. (Bush 43 nominee)
Ketanji Brown Jackson, Associate Justice? No, she was 51 when sworn in. (Biden nominee)
Brett M. Kavanaugh, Associate Justice? No, he was 53 when sworn in. (Trump nominee)
Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice? No, she was 54 when sworn in. (Obama nominee)
Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Associate Justice? No, he was 56 when sworn in. (Bush 43 nominee)
---
FYI:
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney was 59 when sworn in. (Jackson nominee). He served on the Court for 28 years.
Associate Justice Louis Brendais was 59 when sworn in. (Wilson nominee). He served on the Court for 22 years.
Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall was 59 when sworn in. (L. Johnson nominee). He served on the Court for 23 years.
Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was 60 when sworn in. (Clinton nominee) She served on the Court for 27 years.
Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was 61 when sworn in (T. Roosevelt nominee). He served on the Court for 29 years.
Associate Justice Hugo Black was 61 when sworn in (F. Roosevelt nominee). He served on the Court for 34 years.
Associate Justice Harry Blackmun was 61 when sworn in. (Nixon nominee) He served on the Court for 24 years.
---
At age 65 (or even 60), a judge (if nominated) will likely have a long paper trail of decisions. A senator (if nominated) will have likely have a long voting record. Senators (their constituents, the president and the media) will have a reasonable expectation of the nominee. No more Senate show hearings and no more focus on what movies s/he rented.
36-40, F
