<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
one thing i've never understood is why supreme court judges are given lifetime appointments.  i think that's silly.
<|assistant|>
Lifetime appointments for Supreme Court Justices were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, which was an effort to ensure the independence of the judiciary by insulating judges from political influences. It was also seen as a way to guarantee stability in the legal system by ensuring that judges had time to thoroughly understand the laws and build their experience over a long term.