Should judges be appointed or elected?

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Appointed, but for a fixed amount of time.  Not for life.

[MarkD]

Appointed by existing judges as their successors. In other words, hereditary (not to be confused with familial).

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The thing I would fear about fixed terms for appointed judges, is that those approaching the end of their tenures would start ruling the way lame duck congressmen vote—i.e. with an eye toward future lobbying gigs.

[Greedo punched first]

What’s better, term limits or a mandatory retirement age?

[TDAS04]

What’s better, term limits or a mandatory retirement age?

A limit of one term, however long that term may be.  Mandatory retirement ages aren’t fair.

[Orser67]

Appointed for 20 year terms. The terms are long enough to provide for judicial independence. The existence of terms makes each appointment less of a winner-take-all political battle and lessens the possibility of judges going into mental decline while on the bench.

[UlmerFudd]

Appointed, but for a fixed amount of time.  Not for life.