Assignment task:
How to respond to discussion post
This week we are tasked with discussing the strength and weakness of the lifetime appointments of Supreme Court justices. We are also here to evaluate how exactly this affects our system as a whole.
Strengths:
Lifetime Appointments: When an individual is selected to be a Supreme court justice, they are selected to serve for life. This can lead to stability for an individual's wellbeing and their lifestyle because they will not have to search for another career should they find themselves appointed. We are told in our resources that "Supreme Court justices, like other federal court judges, are appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate and serve for life, assuming "good behavior," which means that they are subject to impeachment by Congress for misconduct." (Walden University 2018) This means that as long as they stay true to their causes, they will continue to have a career.
Appointment by the president: When an individual is selected for a Supreme Court seat, they are selected by the President. This would lead common citizens to further trust this individual because it is an individual that their candidate trusts as well. In the reading this week it tells us that "The influence of a president is secured in part through the successful confirmation of a Supreme Court justice, who may serve for decades following the president's term of office." (Walden University 2018) And I think this is so important because it shows the lasting effects a president can have even after they have left office.
Weaknesses:
Lifetime Appointments: While lifetime appointments can affect a position in a positive way, it can also be seen as a weakness. If a person gets into the position and then suddenly switches to the opposite political side, then there is nothing that can be done. There are many issues that the US government has to deal with on a regular basis; this makes it incredibly difficult when individuals who were once on your side suddenly flip to the other side of the political spectrum
Accountability: This weakness goes hand in hand with the lifetime appointment because if a person lacks accountability, then there is nothing stopping them from going on a political tirade. They are allowed to do as they please therefore they do not have to have a sense of accountability because there are zero repercussions. Our resources say that "A judge's personal life, business conduct, and professional ethics will all be scrutinized before he or she is confirmed to sit on the court." (Walden University 2018) This lets me know that after they are confirmed it is no longer a worry.