Gloria Dulan-Wilson Blog/ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS: ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS: Guest Post: Brennan Center for Justice - is it time to demand Subprime Court Term Limits to 18 years?

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

I received this communique yesterday from the Brennen Center for Justice in reference to Term Limits for the Subprime Court Injustices. I have signed it, even though from my standpoint they're on the late show. I wrote an article about term limits Black in the day when the repuglycons had originally submitted Bork as the subprime court injustice to replace Thurgood Marshall. We were vehemently against his nomination, and thought it was an absolute insult to even consider Bork in any shape form or fashion for the bench.

We should have realized that Bork was a straw dog - a diversionary tactic on the part of the repuglycons, because the next person they nominated was Uncle Thomas Clarence - who was even more reprehensible and underhanded that Bork could have ever been.

We then found ourselves in the midst of a virtual Catch-22. Most of us know what happened after than - scandal, embarrassment, disgrace and disgust - and they ratified him anyway as retaliation against Black people.

My article was in reference to why it was that subprime court injustices had to be on the bench for life - as was the late, great Icon, Thurgood Marshall - who nearly died on the bench. I remember a reporter asking him why he was stepping down and his response was "I'm old! I've held out as long as I can. But, I'm old!" We had made several salient recommendations for replacing Marshall, emphasizing that the next Justice should be Black like as well. And that was the gotcha!! As most of us well know. However my query as to why Subprime court justices are appointed for life - as opposed to President's who are there for 2 four terms, or senators who are there for 6 years (also why, no one knows); or representatives who are constantly campaigning because of 2 years. It was then that I began to realize that the Subprime court was being stacked and packed according to political party, as opposed to the non-partisan basis most of use assumed and were lead to believe in in the early days. So I recommended that they have no more than 16 years, and that the current incumbents would be based on the time already served on the bench as to whether or not they have met that limit.

Sadly this was prior to launching my Blog: ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS - but was during the time I was feature writer for The Daily Challenge News (who may well still have it in their archives).

So, here we are in 2023, and the Subprime Court has sunk even lower than 1993 - literally 30 years later. And the puppet strings show visibly - making a mockery of any thing they say or do - especially the rightwingnut appointees. And I want to go on record saying that now the terms should be limited to 8 years - instead of 16 - because the contamination is to the roots. SMH

That said, if you agree that there needs to be term limits applied to the subprime court, please respond to the Brennan Center for Justice - we now know what happens when we sit on the side lines and take no interest or action in what's going on around us. I'm sending you a copy of their post to me - sharing it with you so that you can fill it out and share a blank form with your other friends, relatives, associates.

Don't let this come through and not take a stand. There's too much at stake.

And, oh yes, the Supreme Court became subprime the day Thurgood Marshall had to step down. As you can readily see, there has been no one since that has had the impact, insight, integrity, involvement at the level of excellence that he has. If you know someone who can fill those shoes, I strongly suggest you submit their info to President Biden. He's looking for someone - as are we all.

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

STAY BLESSED &

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria

From: Brennan Center for Justice <info@brennan.law.nyu.edu>
Date: Thu, Jun 22, 2023 at 4:40 PM
Subject: We’re calling for Supreme Court term limits — join us
To: <ECLECTICALLYBLACKNEWS@gmail.com>

Dear Gloria,

Yesterday, we learned about the latest Supreme Court ethics scandal — this time involving Justice Alito failing to disclose gifts from a billionaire donor. These ongoing scandals highlight that our system of judicial accountability and checks and balances is broken.

The disconnect between the American people and the radical conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court is only intensifying. In decision after decision — on abortion rights, gun control, and climate protection — the Court is handing down decades worth of social change at odds with both precedent and public sentiment.

Put simply: no one should have this much power for this long. George Washington had that insight when he stepped down from the presidency after two terms. Public trust in the Court is at an all-time low. We are calling for a powerful tool to bring accountability back to the Supreme Court: term limits.

Tell Congress: The American people want Supreme Court term limits NOW.

Add Your Voice >>

The United States stands virtually alone in giving justices a lifetime job. Rhode Island is the only state with life tenure for its state supreme court. Every other major democracy in the world has term or age limits for their high courts. On average, justices today sit on the bench for more than a decade longer than their predecessors did in the 1960s, accruing far more power than anyone in the founding era would have anticipated.

It’s no surprise that public support for the Court is at its lowest ever — and falling fast. This all amounts to a crisis of legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s own making as it inserts itself into the most controversial issues of our day. The notion of term limits, however, is uncontroversial. It has broad and consistent bipartisan support.

Will you join us and demand that Congress balances the Supreme Court’s unchecked power with 18-year term limits?

CALL FOR SUPREME COURT TERM LIMITS NOW >>

Thank you for taking a stand,
The Brennan Center for Justice