Neil Gorsuch

[GMDino]

(02-01-2017, 10:41 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: An age cap is an effective term limit, though. It would still politicize the position more. Think of it this way, any way that you can look at a justice's seat and know when it is going to become empty will allow the bench to become more politicized.

I'm not sitting here and just saying this is wrong, mind you. Just that the reason is a lifetime appointment is to reduce the politicization, and any move to put a limit on their service will make it more politicized. There is no way around that, really.

No I know it's just a discussion.

My thought on an upper limit is that once they reach that number there is less of a chance they will leave the bench and get back into politics as a lobbyist or representing someone.

If we say a 20 year limit Gorsuch would be around 70 when he left anyway.

At that age you'll have the rare bird that stay active in politics for 10 more years or more....but more that will simply retire.

I don't think we're going to see a 25 or 30 year old nominated but I'd have to run the numbers on the average age when nominated for the SC.