Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2025
Rep. Khanna Introduces Bill to Set 18-Year Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has been sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review. It is actively moving through the system, but no future hearings or votes have been scheduled yet. There is no companion bill mentioned for this proposal.
Legislative Progress
This bill faces major legal hurdles because many experts believe Supreme Court term limits require changing the Constitution rather than just passing a regular law.
Key Points
- New Supreme Court Justices would serve 18 years on the active nine-member panel instead of serving for life. After 18 years, they become Senior Justices who can still do some judicial work but no longer decide the Court's biggest cases.
From policy text
“After a Justice has served 18 years, that Justice shall be deemed a Justice retired from regular active service under section 371(b).”
View in full text - Every president would get to appoint two Justices per four-year term, one in the first year and one in the third year after a presidential election. This makes the process predictable and gives each president an equal say in shaping the Court.
From policy text
“The President shall, during the first and third years after a year in which there is a Presidential election, nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint one Justice of the Supreme Court.”
View in full text - If the Senate does not vote on a Supreme Court nominee within 120 days, the nominee would automatically be seated as a Justice. This prevents the kind of political blocking that has delayed or stopped nominees in recent years.
From policy text
“If the Senate does not exercise its advice and consent authority with respect to a President's nominee to the Supreme Court within 120 days after the nomination, the Senate shall be deemed to have waived its advice and consent authority with respect to such nominee, and the nominee shall be seated as a Justice of the Supreme Court.”
View in full text - Current Justices are completely exempt from the new rules. The 18-year term limit and the regular appointment schedule only apply to Justices appointed after the bill becomes law.
From policy text
“No Justice appointed before the date of enactment of this Act shall be counted toward the panel of nine Justices described in subsection (a), nor shall they be required to retire from regular active service under subsection (b).”
View in full text - When a Justice dies, becomes disabled, or is removed, the most recently retired Senior Justice would temporarily fill that seat until a new appointment happens on the regular schedule. This ensures the Court always has nine active members.
From policy text
“When there is a vacancy on the Supreme Court due to the death, disability certification under section 372, or removal of a Justice, the retired Chief Justice of the United States or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court who has most recently become a Senior Justice shall be designated and assigned to serve as a Justice until an appointment is made under section 7 of this title.”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articles
Lawmakers Khanna and Beyer Renew Effort to Reform Supreme Court with 18-Year Term Limits Bill
Representatives Ro Khanna and Don Beyer have reintroduced the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act. The bill proposes 18-year term limits for future justices and a structured appointment process where each president nominates two justices per four-year term.
SCOTUStoday for Tuesday, March 24
Rep. Ro Khanna reintroduced the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act in 2025. The act would guarantee each president two nominations per term, with justices serving 18 years before moving to senior status to avoid constitutional challenges regarding life tenure.
House Democrats to introduce new bill for Supreme Court term limits
The bill institutes regular appointments every two years, with justices serving nonrenewable 18-year terms. After 18 years, they become 'senior justices.' It is the first attempt to institute term limits via statute rather than constitutional amendment, utilizing Congress's authority to regulate.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(8)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.