Senators Push Bill for 18-Year Supreme Court Term Limits
Senators introduced the BATL Act proposing 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices.
Why it matters: This push reflects growing concern over the Court's legitimacy and could reshape its composition and operations, impacting constitutional law and the broader judiciary system.
- The BATL Act, introduced July 22, 2026, proposes 18-year term limits and appointments every two years for Supreme Court justices.
- Public approval of the Supreme Court has fallen to 33%, a historic low as of July 2026.
- The Court recently ruled in Trump v. Slaughter against for-cause removal protections for FTC commissioners.
- Justices Barrett and Kagan have expressed openness to enforceable ethics reforms for the Court.
On July 22, 2026, Senators Alex Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse, Cory Booker, and Richard Blumenthal unveiled the Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits (BATL) Act. The legislation proposes an 18-year term limit for Supreme Court justices with a new justice appointed every two years to regularize turnover and mitigate lifetime tenure concerns. The Senators aim to "restore Americans' trust in the Court," addressing the body’s historically low approval rating.
As of July 2026, public approval of the U.S. Supreme Court has plummeted to only 33%, according to a Gallup survey reported by Axios. This drop follows decades of decline, placing the Court's reputation alongside other institutions like Congress and the presidency.
Recent Court decisions and events underscore debates about the judiciary's role. On June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Slaughter that the statutory protection shielding Federal Trade Commission Commissioners from at-will presidential removal is unconstitutional, stirring controversy over executive power and agency independence. Legal experts analyzed this move as a significant shift in the balance of power (Baker Botts).
Meanwhile, on July 14, 2026, Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified before Congress, signaling openness to enforceable ethics reforms for the Supreme Court to enhance institutional integrity (Democracy Docket).
Further indicating momentum, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg publicly advocated for reforms including court expansion and term limits on July 24, 2026. He stated, "The legitimacy of the Supreme Court is, I believe, the lowest it's ever been in the eyes of the American people," emphasizing the urgent need for changes (RedState).
Together, these developments highlight a growing bipartisan debate on how to reform the Court’s structure and ethics, aiming to curb concerns about partisanship, transparency, and lifetime influence in the judiciary. The BATL Act embodies this effort, proposing a legislative path to reshape how the Supreme Court functions in the coming decades.
By the numbers:
- 33% — Supreme Court public approval rating in July 2026
- 18 years — Proposed term limit for Supreme Court justices under the BATL Act
- 2 years — Interval for new Supreme Court appointments per the BATL Act
Yes, but: The BATL Act's term limits may face constitutional challenges, as lifetime tenure is currently protected by the Constitution.
What's next: Congressional hearings and debates on the BATL Act and other Supreme Court reform proposals are expected in late 2026.