Olszewski to Introduce ROBE Act to Establish Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices

(Washington, D.C.) - Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski today will introduce the Reform of Bench Eligibility (ROBE) Act - a constitutional amendment that would establish 18-year term limits for Supreme Court Justices. His announcement comes in the wake of the Court's recent and dangerous ruling effectively gutting the Voting Rights Act.

That decision adds to growing concern that the nation's highest court has become increasingly partisan, eroding public confidence in its role as an impartial arbiter of the law.

"Faith in the Court depends on its legitimacy as a fair and independent institution," Congressman Olszewski said. "Recent rulings that have thrown out decades of legal precedent, combined with ethically dubious behavior by sitting judges, are testing that faith. Justices should not be hobnobbing at White House dinners and flying on the private jets of friends who have business before the Court.

By establishing term limits, we can reduce the political gamesmanship surrounding appointments, restore balance to the process, and strengthen the integrity of the Court."

Under the current system, Supreme Court Justices serve lifetime appointments, enabling justices to serve for decades without accountability. Modern tenure lengths are the longest in American history, and retirement decisions have increasingly become strategic - often aligned with the political preferences of the sitting president.

This dynamic has also reshaped the confirmation process. Rather than focusing solely on qualifications, presidents are incentivized to nominate younger, more ideologically predictable candidates to secure long-term influence over the Court. The result is a more contentious and politicized process that further undermines public trust.

Congressman Olszewski also cited alarmingly partisan behavior from sitting judges, including the presence of six members of the bench at a recent White House state dinner. Justices have also accepted luxury gifts from political donors and friends with business before the court. One sitting judge was accused of flying a "stop the steal" flag outside his home less than a week after the January 6 riots.

The ROBE Act would create 18-year terms for Supreme Court Justices, ensuring regular and predictable turnover. The amendment would apply to current Justices and include provisions for a fair and orderly transition to the new system.

The proposal aims to lower the stakes of any single nomination, promote a more consistent appointment process, and ultimately rebuild public confidence in the judiciary.

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