HR 5140 United States House · 117th Congress

Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2021

Summary
Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2021 This bill establishes staggered, 18-year terms for Supreme Court Justices and limits the Senate's advice and consent authority in relation to the appointment of Justices. Specifically, the bill requires the President to appoint a Supreme Court Justice every two years. If the appointment of a Justice would result in more than nine Justices on the Court, then the nine most junior Justices shall make up the panel of Justices exercising judicial power in cases and controversies. Further, any Justice who has served a total of 18 years is deemed retired from regular service and may continue to serve as a Senior Justice. Senior Justices may continue to perform judicial duties assigned to them by the Chief Justice. However, no Justice appointed before the date of enactment shall be counted towards such panel, nor shall they be required to retire from regular active service. In the event of a vacancy on the Court, the Chief Justice must assign the Justice most recently designated as a Senior Justice to serve on the Court until the appointment of a new Justice. Additionally, the Senate's advice and consent authority is waived if the Senate does not act within 120 days of a Justice's nomination.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Aug 31, 2021 Last action Nov 1, 2022
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Nov 1, 2022
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
lower
Aug 31, 2021
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
Aug 31, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 17 co-sponsors

Sponsors