Staff Reports
Kamala Harris is at it again, and it seems she may have forgotten that the Constitution exists. The Vice President, seemingly uninterested in the rule of law, has thrown her support behind a proposal that would impose term limits on Supreme Court justices. This latest endeavor appears to be an aggressive bid to reshape the nation’s highest court according to her party’s whims, potentially forcing out justices like Clarence Thomas and others appointed by Republicans. It is a head-scratcher how someone in a high governmental position can advocate for legislation that flouts the Constitution so blatantly.
Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution clearly outlines the structure of the Judicial Branch. It states that judges hold their offices during good behavior, and this safeguard means they can only be removed through impeachment. But Harris seems either unaware of or conveniently ignores this foundational principle in her latest campaign strategy, which was unveiled just ahead of a crucial debate with Donald Trump. Those watching might wonder if this is simply poor political timing or a desperate grasp at power.
CRA Sr. Fellow @MarkPaoletta: Kamala Harris is supporting the most radical assault on the Supreme Court in our nation’s historyhttps://t.co/5qwxqFI6dk
— Citizens for Renewing America (@amrenewcitizen) September 9, 2024
The Harris-Walz campaign documents suggest an ambitious plan that directly aligns with another troubling proposal put forth by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. This proposal seeks to limit justices to an 18-year term, while the legislators themselves enjoy no such limits, effectively rendering Congress above the law they wish to impose on the judiciary. The contrast here is stark; while they advocate for judicial turnover, they remain firmly entrenched in their seats, untouchable. This hypocrisy is emblematic of the broader Democratic approach, where rules seem to apply selectively, depending on who benefits from them.
Congress has no jurisdiction to impose such changes, and Harris’s push has stirred up speculation about how much she truly understands the Constitution. By advocating for forced retirements of justices, she puts forth a plan that not only lacks practicality but also threatens the independent judiciary that the Founding Fathers so carefully designed. This proposes ongoing instability in the highest court, leading to a judicial landscape altered to fit the current political climate rather than adhering to the law as it stands.
This continual assault on the Constitution is becoming par for the course for the Democratic Party. The idea of stable judicial appointments was not merely an oversight in the Founding Fathers’ design; it was a feature intended to protect the courts from political volatility. Instead, Harris and her allies are advocating for a system where judicial appointments are made every couple of years, potentially turning the Supreme Court into a political football rather than a bastion of justice. The implications of this kind of legal gymnastics could turn into a nightmare scenario for the nation, as neither fairness nor lawfulness would guide such a process.
In attempting to gain ground politically, Harris risks disregarding the very fabric of American governance. The push for term limits on Supreme Court justices signals a broader trend of circumventing established norms for short-term political gain. The Constitution may well remain a barrier to her ambitions, but one can’t help but wonder if the current leadership will remember its importance or remain fixated on achieving their agenda, no matter the cost.
