The consequences of life tenure for federal judges:
- Life tenure for federal judges was implemented for an extraordinarily vital purpose.
- It protects the judges from the 'political stress' which might come with periodic liability to an 'electorate'.
- But importantly, this ideal does not demand life tenure. Appointment without possibility of renewal for a fixed term of years would fulfill the same purpose.
- But ironically this life tenure has further magnified political divisions.
- So, this has failed to completely implement the judicial independence that the lifetime appointment of a federal judge had hoped to serve.