Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Khanna
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a system of regular, staggered term limits for Supreme Court appointments and a formal Senior Justice role to temporarily fill vacancies until new nominees are seated.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Retired Justices can fill vacancies
A Justice who retires from regular active service, including after 18 years, would become a Senior Justice. The Chief Justice could assign Senior Justices to perform duties and to temporarily fill Supreme Court vacancies until a new appointment is made under the schedule. Justices who retire for disability could not serve as Senior Justices. If there are multiple openings, the Senior Justice with the least time in that role would be chosen first, then others.
Set schedule for Supreme Court appointments
The bill would set a fixed rhythm for Supreme Court picks. The President would nominate one Justice in the first and third years after each presidential election year. The Senate would have up to 120 days to act. If the Senate took no action in 120 days, it would be treated as a waiver and the nominee would take the seat.
Nine junior Justices decide cases
If enacted, the Court would hear cases with the nine most junior Justices, unless the bill says otherwise. Justices appointed before the bill takes effect may not count toward the nine. This could change which Justices decide major cases.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Khanna
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov