Silly question: Why does the POTUS pick Supreme court justices?

[chuck norris 42]

As a non-American it baffles me that American politicians get to pick judges,

in really simple terms:  An independent body such as the electoral college to decide the results of elections, you cannot give politicians control of the outcome of the elections.

Once again in really simple terms: Countries outside the US let independent bodies pick judges as well, Why do Americans let the politicians pick the judges?

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

The POTUS picks Supreme Court Justices and then are then approved or rejected by the Senate because of Art. II, Section 2 of the US Constitution:

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments [emphasis added].

 

 

 

 

That power could be stripped from the POTUS with a Constitutional Amendment.  The original idea was to create a balance between the three branches of government with the President having the power to appoint, the Senate having the power to reject the appointment, and the Justices so approved serving for life but subject to removal after impeachment and trial by the Senate.