Pelosi supports term limits for Supreme Court Justices.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi Calls for Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices

In a recent interview on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed her support for implementing term limits for members of the U.S. Supreme Court. Pelosi believes that the current system, where justices serve for life without any accountability for their ethics, needs to change.

Pelosi stated, “There certainly should be term limits. And if nothing else, there should be some ethical rules to be followed.” She also criticized the court’s lack of a sufficient ethical standard and called for them to take action.

During the interview, Pelosi and Psaki discussed the recent Quinnipiac University poll, which revealed that only 30 percent of registered voters approved of the Supreme Court, the lowest rating since 2004. Pelosi responded, “Thirty percent seems high,” and emphasized the importance of electing Democratic presidents who can appoint justices who uphold the Constitution.

Pelosi also raised the topic of expanding the court, stating that it has been 150 years since the last expansion and that it should be a subject of discussion. She mentioned that President formed a commission, which did not recommend court expansion, but Pelosi believes that the discussion should continue.

Court Controversy

Various polls have shown a decline in Supreme Court approval ratings. The Marquette Law School’s poll found that 41 percent of American adults approved of the court, while 59 percent disapproved. Respondents also rated the “honesty and ethical standards” of Supreme Court justices more negatively than positively.

A Gallup poll from September 2022 showed that 40 percent of Americans approved of the way the Supreme Court was handling its job, while 58 percent disapproved. The Marquette Law School’s poll highlighted that the justices are generally not well known to the public, but recent high-profile issues have raised the court’s profile temporarily.

Reports about financial disclosures of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito by ProPublica have further fueled recognition and controversy surrounding the court. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) have pointed to these financial disclosures.