Opposition to Imposing Time Limits on Tenures of Supreme Court Judges
In the latest issue of "Profiles", Ashwin Prabaharan '26, a renowned figure at Bates College, is featured. As a student, staff writer, and Chief Opinions Editor, Prabaharan's influence extends across various platforms.
In an article published in the Spire, the topic of term limits for Supreme Court justices was debated. While the piece was penned by staff writer Anna Lucci, Prabaharan felt compelled to respond to her arguments.
Prabaharan argues against the enactment of term limits for justices of the Supreme Court, asserting that such a move could compromise the independence of the highest bench and deviate from the spirit of the Framers and the Constitution. He believes that the point of lifetime appointments is to shield justices from political pressure, a sentiment echoed by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 78.
The Supreme Court serves as an intermediary between Congress and the presidency, interpreting the Constitution on behalf of its two counterpart branches. The Court's decisions, often made in a unanimous or near-unanimous manner, may run afoul of popular sentiment and preference, but this is intended to uphold the Federalist and the Framers' vision of a judicial system that is independent and impartial.
Prabaharan's major is Political Science, and his academic pursuits are matched by his extracurricular involvement. He is actively engaged with The Spire, Resident Assistant, Peer Career Assistant, Spring Break Immersion Program, Student Accessibility Advisory Board, Hanify-Howland Lecture Committee, and SGA.
When not engrossed in his studies or college activities, Prabaharan enjoys unwinding with his favourite movie, Despicable Me, and listening to Vienna. His photo, courtesy of Charlotte Fallon '26 and Mara Galvin '24, captures the vibrant energy that defines him.
The revitalization of the issue concerning the Court's makeup given its reversal of the landmark decision Roe v. Wade is often used as a political argument for term limits. However, enacting term limits risks the stability of the traditional stare decisis principle that defers to precedent and the Constitution for the sake of predictability. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sought to maneuver around the decisions of the Court by stacking it with six additional justices, a move that was met with significant opposition.
The author's name is not available in the provided information, but Prabaharan's response serves as a thoughtful counterpoint to the argument for term limits. The article, edited by Zexuan Qu '28, offers a nuanced perspective on a topic that continues to spark debate.
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