Momentum for Supreme Court Term Limits Builds on Capitol Hill with Support from Representatives Jim Clyburn and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as Cosponsors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

PRESS CONTACT:
Sarah Harris, [email protected]

Today, Stand Up America celebrated key support from 6 new House Democrats, including Representatives Jim Clyburn (SC-6), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Dingell (MI-6) for the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act of 2023 (TERM Act; H.R.5566) establishing 18-year term limits for current and future Supreme Court justices.

The new cosponsors highlight growing momentum across the Democratic caucus for SCOTUS reform with endorsements from progressives like Ocasio-Cortez and Congressional Progressive Deputy Whips Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-4) and new Democrat Coalition members like Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5). The bill’s 61 cosponsors represent more than 20 states and millions of voters.

Stand Up America’s Managing Director for Policy and Political Affairs, Brett Edkins, issued the following statement in response to growing support for the TERM Act:

“No one should wield unchecked power for life. That’s why nearly every state in this country imposes term limits, elections, or mandatory retirement for their top judges. The idea that a single Supreme Court justice can influence our nation’s laws for decades, impacting the fundamental rights of millions, is simply undemocratic and unsustainable.

“With more than 60 co-sponsors of the TERM Act – from Representative Jim Clyburn to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – there’s unquestionable momentum behind this critical, common sense reform. It’s time for Congress to act to restore faith in our judiciary and serve as the check on the Supreme Court that the Constitution intended.”

The TERM Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), would create 18-year term limits for current and future Supreme Court justices and provide two appointments to the Court in each 4-year presidential term. The United States is the only modern constitutional democracy in the world without term or age limits and 49 of 50 states have likewise rejected life tenure for their highest courts. Supreme Court term limits are broadly popular with the American people, supported by 7 in 10 voters, and would help ensure the Court remains broadly representative of the values of the American people.

Since introduction, the TERM Act has also been endorsed by over 65 groups representing a wide range of issues, including Planned Parenthood Federation Action Fund, RWDSU, Color of Change, Brennan Center for Justice, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Stand Up America.

Stand Up America’s nearly 2 million members have made over 200,000 emails, 6,000 calls, and driven nearly 18,000 petition signers in support of the TERM Act. For more information about Supreme Court reform, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].

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About Stand Up America
Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with nearly two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to stand up to corruption and voter suppression and build a more representative democracy, Stand Up America has driven over 1.7 million calls to lawmakers, registered over 100,000 voters, mobilized thousands of protestors, and contacted tens of millions of voters.

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