Bills of Congress January 30, 2026 by U.S. Congress

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the terms of office of the judges of the Supreme Court and inferior courts.

Summary

This document is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of Supreme Court and inferior court judges to 20 years. The resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 30, 2026, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. It stipulates that the amendment would only apply to appointments made after its ratification.

Expected Effects

If ratified, this amendment would alter the tenure of federal judges, who currently serve lifetime appointments during good behavior, as outlined in Article III of the Constitution. Judges would be limited to a 20-year term, after which they would not be eligible for reappointment in the same court. This could lead to more frequent judicial appointments and potentially shift the balance of power within the judiciary.

Potential Benefits

Could lead to more diverse judicial appointments over time.
May encourage judges to remain more attuned to contemporary legal and social issues.
Could reduce the risk of judges becoming entrenched or out of touch.
Could create more opportunities for experienced legal professionals to serve on the bench.
May increase public confidence in the judiciary by ensuring regular turnover.

Potential Disadvantages

Could diminish judicial independence by making judges more concerned with their legacy or future career prospects.
May lead to a loss of institutional knowledge and experience on the courts.
Could increase political pressure on judicial appointments as terms become shorter.
Could disrupt the stability and predictability of legal precedent.
May create uncertainty and litigation regarding the interpretation and application of the term limits.

Constitutional Alignment

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The proposed amendment aligns with the Constitution's amendment process, as described in Article V, which allows for amendments to be proposed by Congress and ratified by the states. However, it would alter the existing structure of the judiciary established in Article III, Section 1, which grants judges lifetime tenure during good behavior. The amendment seeks to modify a fundamental aspect of the judicial branch as originally conceived by the framers.