Supreme Court Judge Stephen Breyer joked in an interview Sunday that term limits would “make life easier for him” amid calls by progressives to withdraw, so President Biden and the Democratic-controlled Senate they can hold the office for life.
Breyer, 83, was asked by Chris Wallace, host of “Fox News Sunday,” about the possibility of setting 18-year terms instead of life terms on the bench.
“I think this could be done. It should be a very long time because you don’t want the judge occupying you to start thinking about your next job. But it would make my life easier, ”the 27-year-old court veteran said with a smile.
Asked about Democrats urging him to retire while the party has a majority in the Senate so his successor can be confirmed, Breyer said they “have a right to his opinion.”
“I think they, and not only understand the political world much better than I do, or they understand it quite well. And here we are. What else do you want me to say? ”Justice said.
Breyer said there are “many factors” he is considering when retiring.
“And the role of the court and others is one of them,” he said. “And the situation, the institutional considerations are some. And I think, I can’t say I have anything perfectly in mind, but in my mind I think about these things. “
He later reiterated: “I have no intention of dying in court. I don’t think I’ll be there forever. “
In the interview, Breyer also warned that Democrats are considering increasing the number of judges in court now that former President Donald Trump had appointed three, which has made the court a conservative 6-3 majority.
“Well, if one party could do it, I guess another part could do it,” he said. “On the surface, it seems to me that you are starting to change all these things and people will lose confidence in the court.”