1. At some point, we should talk about whether it's the best system to have the timing of the death of one woman result in radically changing the ideological composition of the country's highest court in the world's most powerful democracy for decades, without much recourse.
2. It's not just anti-democratic to have lifetime appointments for justices (though it is), it can also be terrible for the judges themselves, who effectively have to work until death because their ability to draw breath is sometimes literally protecting basic rights for millions
3. Something like 10/12 year terms for justices would go a long way, as would reforms like an independent scoring procedure for qualifications; a requirement for justices to be given hearings and up-or-down votes within a certain time frame; and formal rules around elections.
4. There are many aspects of American democracy that require reform - and many of them pre-date Trump. If Democrats win in November, they should spark a broader conversation about democratic reforms, some inspired by Trump's violations, others by longstanding rot in institutions.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
