Tom Barrett
02/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/02/2026 10:12
Barrett Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Establish Term Limits for Federal Judges
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today announced a new piece of government reform legislation to build on the first pillar of his Blueprint for a Better America - Restoring Trust in Government. The constitutional amendment would limit federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, to serving a 20-year term.
The Judicial Term Limits Amendment (H.J.Res 145) would also prevent judges who complete a 20-year term from getting reappointed to the same federal court. This would only apply to newly appointed federal judges, allowing the term limit to take effect gradually as current judges leave the bench, while preventing the president and Senate from immediately getting new judicial vacancies to fill.
"Our federal courts are responsible for upholding our most fundamental rights and liberties," said Barrett. "Lifetime appointments were designed to protect judicial independence, but instead have too often emboldened judges to wield their enormous power long after they should have retired. When our Constitution was ratified, 20 years practically was a lifetime appointment. Along with the Keep the Nine Amendment that I co-sponsored, a reasonable term limit will ensure occasional turnover in powerful offices, preserve the independence our judiciary needs to apply the law without fear or favor, and protect the integrity of the courts for generations to come."
The average age of federal judges has risen significantly since the nation's founding. The average judge as of 2024 is 68 years old, compared to 49 years old in 1789.
The Judicial Term Limits Amendment builds on Barrett's effort to preserve judicial independence and keep partisan politics from interfering with the judiciary by permanently setting the Supreme Court's membership at nine justices.
About Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America
Restoring Trust in Government is the first of five pillars of Barrett's Blueprint for a Better America. The Congressman will continue to unveil additional proposals in the coming weeks to address all of the five key policy pillars of this agenda:
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Restoring Trust in Government: Making Government Serve the People, Not Special Interests
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Reviving the American Dream: Helping Families Afford Homes in Mid-Michigan
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Making Health Care Affordable Again: Lowering Costs for Working Families
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Recalibrating American Foreign Policy: Ending Endless Wars and Promoting Peace Through Strength
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Reforming Campaign Finance: Putting Governing Before Campaigning
To learn more, click here or visit barrett.house.gov/reform.
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