I think 9 is the right number. It was never supposed to be tied to population, it was supposed to be a group of people who used the Constitution – along with years of experience – to decide really difficult cases. That’s the way I view the Supreme Court and always will.
I do, however, think it needs two changes. First, it never needs to be more than a 5-4 balance in either direction because anything other than that does not reflect the beliefs of our country. The only reason it is so off-balance now is because of nothing but luck, and we’re too advanced a society to base something so important on luck.
Second, it is possible for a justice to stay on the court for half a century if they are seated early enough in their lives. That’s just too long. I’m in favor of term limits at all levels of elected office, and that goes for judicial appointments, as well. Twenty years is enough.
Original source can be found here.
