Life Tenure Quotes

Federal judges, alone among public officials, are given life tenure precisely so that they will not be accountable to the people.

I note that [Benazir] Bhutto demonstrates her own deep commitment to democracy by giving herself the title chairperson for life of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

The English Parliament in 1641 created judges for life. Before that, judges could be and were sacked.

It's a good process. It takes a while, and it should. Life tenure is one of our most important safeguards.... I want to make impeachment as our founders had in mind—very difficult.

That judges of important causes should hold office for life is not a good thing, for the mind grows old as well as the body.

When Obama took office, Republican appointees controlled ten of the thirteen circuit courts of appeals; Democratic appointees now constitute a majority in nine circuits. Because federal judges have life tenure, nearly all of Obama's judges will continue serving well after he leaves office.

No human being, past the thoughtless age of boyhood, will wantonly murder any creature which holds its life by the same tenure that he does.

And life is given to none freehold, but it is leasehold for all.

A life-tenured position in a democracy is an odd thing.

The reason the Constitution gives judges life tenure is so they can be independent of political pressures and follow the law.

It's not that unusual for presidents to take strong positions on cases decided by the court. But you know, Lesley, that's why the Constitution wisely gave us life tenure. They can talk about us, but they can't remove us.