• That had to do with size of the court.

    Constitution says it’s a lifetime appointment, though.

    Can have all the rules you want, which the justices are free to ignore because the Constitution says it’s a lifetime seat.

    • mriguy@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      You just have to be creative. Pass a law saying holding a Supreme Court seat for more than 20 years is a capital crime.

      • APassenger@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That would be unconstitutional and ruled that way, too. The law cannot take away a thing guaranteed by the Constitution (the lifetime appointment).

        There would need to be an impeachment or amendment. Or court-packing.

        • mriguy@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          It would be evil and unethical, yes, but not unconstitutional. They would still be justices right up until their execution, so it’s still a lifetime appointment.

          • APassenger@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            It could still run up against tue 8th Amendment, more specifically the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

            Edit to add: being convicted of a capital crime does not guarantee a death sentence. Anything less than death still bumps into a Constitutional issue.

            Coming and going, there’s a likely Constituional challenge. An amendment would almost be easier.

            • Alien Nathan Edward@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              death penalty isn’t cruel or unusual. scotus said so themselves. they even said a punishment could be cruel as long as it isn’t unusual.