Are Supreme Court justices for life?
Asked by: Ms. Lavina Conn PhD | Last update: February 4, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (43 votes)
Yes, U.S. Supreme Court Justices have lifetime appointments, serving during "good Behaviour," meaning they hold office until they resign, retire, or are removed through impeachment, a system established by Article III of the Constitution to ensure judicial independence from political pressures. This life tenure is intended to let them make decisions based purely on law, though it results in much longer terms than originally anticipated and makes the U.S. an outlier among democracies.
Does the Constitution say Supreme Court justices serve for life?
Like all Federal judges, Supreme Court Justices serve lifetime appointments on the Court, in accordance with Article III of the United States Constitution.
Does a Supreme Court justice lose their job after 10 years?
The Constitution authorizes United States Supreme Court justices to serve during “good Behaviour”; as a practical matter, this has meant life tenure, given how rare legislative impeachment and removal are.
Can the President change the number of Supreme Court justices?
No, the President cannot directly change the number of Supreme Court Justices; only Congress has that power by passing a law, but the President must sign that law for it to take effect, meaning both branches must agree, as seen with the Judiciary Act of 1869 fixing the number at nine. While presidents appoint justices, they can only fill existing vacancies or new ones Congress creates, as the Constitution doesn't set the court's size, allowing Congress to adjust it as a legislative check.
Do US Supreme Court justices have to retire?
Under the Constitution, federal judges — including Supreme Court justices — hold office for life or until they choose to retire. This structure exists because judges are supposed to base their decisions on the law and Constitution, not the demands of voters or politicians.
Why Do Supreme Court Justices Serve For Life?
Do Supreme Court justices get paid after they retire?
(a) Any justice or judge of the United States appointed to hold office during good behavior may retire from the office after attaining the age and meeting the service requirements, whether continuous or otherwise, of subsection (c) and shall, during the remainder of his lifetime, receive an annuity equal to the salary ...
Are Supreme Court justices allowed to quit?
The Constitution states that Justices "shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour." This means that the Justices hold office as long as they choose and can only be removed from office by impeachment. Has a Justice ever been impeached? The only Justice to be impeached was Associate Justice Samuel Chase in 1805.
Can the President overrule a Supreme Court decision?
No, the President cannot directly overturn a Supreme Court decision; only the Court itself (through a new ruling), the Constitution (via amendment), or new legislation by Congress can overturn a major ruling, though Presidents can try to influence future decisions by appointing new justices or challenge rulings through appeals, and historically, some have selectively enforced or ignored certain rulings, as seen with Lincoln and the Dred Scott case.
Why couldn't Obama appoint a Supreme Court justice?
With the death of Antonin Scalia in February 2016 in the beginning of a presidential election year, the Republican majority in the Senate made it their stated policy to refuse to consider any nominee to the Supreme Court, arguing that the next president should be the one to appoint Scalia's replacement.
Who can expand the size of the Supreme Court?
The Constitution generally grants Congress control over the size and structure of the federal courts and, during the first century of the Republic, Congress enacted multiple statutes changing the size of the Supreme Court. However, since the Reconstruction era, the Court's size has been set at nine Justices.
Can a federal judge overrule the president?
The Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) implied, and later cases confirmed, that federal courts also possess authority to review the actions of the executive branch.
How can the number of Supreme Court judges be increased?
As discussed below, Congress has broad authority to set or change the size of the Supreme Court through ordinary legislation, but implementation of term or age limits would likely require a constitutional amendment.
Who appointed John Jay to become a Supreme Court justice?
When George Washington began considering appointments for the new government, he knew he wanted John Jay to hold a leadership position. He eventually appointed Jay as the first Chief Justice of the United States in 1789.
Who served 34 years as Chief Justice?
John Marshall served as the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for 34 years, from 1801 until his death in 1835, making him the longest-serving Chief Justice in American history and establishing the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government through landmark decisions like Marbury v. Madison.
How much do Supreme Court justices make?
As of early 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice earns around $317,500, while Associate Justices earn about $303,600, with slight variations depending on the source and specific effective date, reflecting annual adjustments set by Congress. These figures represent significant increases over recent years, with salaries rising from the $274,200 (Associate) and $286,700 (Chief) in 2022.
What is the Article 142 of the Supreme Court?
Article 142 is a unique provision. It grants the Supreme Court the power to pass any order necessary to secure complete justice. Its draft, Article 118, was adopted by the Constituent Assembly without any debate.
Has any president ignored a Supreme Court ruling?
Yes, presidents have ignored or defied Supreme Court rulings, most famously Andrew Jackson with the Cherokee Nation (Trail of Tears) and Abraham Lincoln by suspending habeas corpus, but this is rare and often leads to constitutional crises, with recent instances involving defiance in deportation cases under the Trump administration. Other examples include governors defying rulings on segregation (Faubus, Barnett) and FDR's stance on military tribunals, highlighting ongoing tensions between executive power and judicial authority.
How many judges did Biden appoint to the Supreme Court?
The total number of Article III judges nominated by Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate was 235, including one associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 45 judges for the United States courts of appeals, 187 judges for the United States district courts and two judges for the United States ...
Who appointed more judges, Trump or Obama?
While President Obama appointed more judges overall (around 330-334) across his two terms compared to Donald Trump's single term (around 226-245), Trump appointed a higher proportion of powerful appellate court judges and more Supreme Court justices (three vs. Obama's two), significantly shifting the courts' ideological balance, especially the circuit courts.
Can a US President fire a Supreme Court judge?
No, a U.S. President cannot fire a Supreme Court Justice; they serve for life ("during good behavior") and can only be removed through the impeachment process by Congress (House impeaches, Senate convicts) for serious misconduct, ensuring judicial independence from political pressure.
What is the President not allowed to do?
A PRESIDENT CANNOT . . .
declare war. decide how federal money will be spent. interpret laws. choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.
Who has greater power than the President?
The Senate has exceptionally high authority, sometimes higher than the President or the House of Representatives. The Senate can try cases of impeachment, which can dismiss a President for misconduct.
Can Congress eliminate the Supreme Court?
The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. See . Congress cannot abolish the high court. See .
What has Clarence Thomas done?
Thomas chaired the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from 1982 to 1990. As chairman, he was tasked with enforcing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in an agency that had been mutually resented by both Democrats and Republicans.
Who can remove the judge from the Supreme Court?
Only the U.S. Congress, through the impeachment process, can remove a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, requiring the House of Representatives to impeach (majority vote) and the Senate to convict (two-thirds vote) for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," granting them lifetime appointments ("good behavior").