Can a child be a Supreme Court justice?
Asked by: Ted Senger | Last update: February 9, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (75 votes)
No, a child cannot be a U.S. Supreme Court Justice because, while the Constitution has no minimum age, justices are appointed through a political process requiring Senate confirmation, and no president would nominate a child, as all past justices have extensive legal experience, making it practically impossible for a minor to meet the implied standards of wisdom and legal qualification for such a high lifetime position.
What is the minimum age to become a Supreme Court justice?
There are no explicit requirements in the U.S. Constitution for a person to be nominated to become a Supreme Court justice. No age, education, job experience, or citizenship rules exist.
Who is the youngest ever Supreme Court judge?
In his time, he was the youngest Advocate General, the youngest Chief Justice of a High Court and the youngest Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Justice Hidayatullah was sworn in as the Acting President of India on 20th July 1969 and served in that capacity till late V.V.
What is the minimum age to become a judge of a Supreme Court?
There is no prescribed minimum age limit for a judge's appointment. A judge of the Supreme Court serves until they reach the age of 65 years. However, a judge may resign before reaching the age of 65 years by tendering their resignation to the President.
What is the youngest age to be a judge?
The Constitution does not provide any eligibility criteria – such as age, literacy, citizenship, legal education, legal/bar or any professional certification, and legal/judicial experience – for one to be appointed as a federal judge.
How do US Supreme Court justices get appointed? - Peter Paccone
What is the youngest judge ever?
At the age of 25, Jasmine Twitty is the youngest person ever to be sworn is as a judge in the town of Easley, South Carolina. Yes, you read that right: A JUDGE.
Is becoming a judge harder than a lawyer?
Yes, becoming a judge is generally much harder than becoming a lawyer because it requires years of successful legal practice, navigating political hurdles (election or appointment), and facing intense competition for a limited number of spots, whereas becoming a lawyer primarily requires law school and passing the bar exam, making the path to judgeship a significantly more difficult, specialized, and selective career progression.
Who is eligible to be a Supreme Court justice?
Before a person can become an appellate or supreme court justice, the Governor must submit the person's name to the California State Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, which is comprised of public members and lawyers who reflect the ethnic, sexual and racial diversity of the population, and must include ...
Can you be a judge without being a lawyer?
Yes, you can be a judge without a law degree, especially in lower courts (like traffic, small claims, or municipal courts) in many U.S. states where non-lawyer judges handle less complex cases after minimal training, and even federal judges aren't constitutionally required to have one, though most do; however, higher courts generally require extensive legal experience or a JD. Requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction, with some states allowing non-lawyers for specific roles like Justice of the Peace or Magistrate, while higher courts almost always demand a law degree.
Who is the oldest Supreme Court judge?
After Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and has been its longest-serving member since Anthony Kennedy's retirement in 2018. He has also been the Court's oldest member since Stephen Breyer retired in 2022.
What illness does Sotomayor have?
Sotomayor was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age seven and began taking daily insulin injections. Her father died of heart problems at age 42, when she was nine years old. After that, she became fluent in English.
Do Supreme Court justices have drivers?
By law, the California Supreme Court and the appellate courts must contract security services with the CHP, which took over the duty in 1995 when it absorbed the old state police department.
Who is the youngest judge of the Supreme Court?
The youngest person ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court was Joseph Story, who was 32 years old when confirmed in 1811, remaining the youngest Associate Justice in history. Among current justices, Amy Coney Barrett, appointed in 2020, is the youngest (around 52 in mid-2024) and the youngest woman ever to serve, while Ketanji Brown Jackson is the most recent appointee and among the younger members.
Why didn't Obama get to nominate a Supreme Court judge?
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.
Do judges have to retire at 70?
Age 65 with at least 20 years of service; or. Age 70 with at least five years of service.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?
No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, a result she publicly shared in November 2025, vowing to keep studying despite the setback, but she has previously passed the "Baby Bar" exam after multiple attempts and plans to retake the main bar exam. She revealed her failed attempt on her show The Kardashians, showing emotional moments from her preparation and disappointment, and emphasized her determination to pass.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
Which states do not require a law degree to be a judge?
In the United States, most states require judges to have a law degree. However, eight states — Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas — have provisions allowing individuals to become judges without following the traditional path of completing law school and passing the bar exam.
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.
How much is the Supreme Court justice salary?
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.
Can the president remove the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
No, the President cannot fire the Chief Justice or any Supreme Court Justice; they hold office during "good Behavior," meaning life tenure, and can only be removed through the impeachment process by Congress (House impeaches, Senate convicts). This lifetime appointment ensures judicial independence, protecting judges from executive and legislative pressure, and they serve until death, resignation, or removal.
Who has more power than a judge?
While judges hold significant authority in court, others wield different forms of power, including Legislators (Congress) who make laws judges interpret, the President who enforces them and appoints judges, Prosecutors (DAs) who heavily influence case outcomes through charging decisions, and even Juries who determine facts, all operating within a system of checks and balances where power is distributed, not absolute.
How old is the youngest judge ever?
Education and career
After completing a training program and passing a certification examination, Twitty was sworn in as a judge at the age of 25.
Can a judge kick out a lawyer?
If the trial has not yet begun, and there is a sufficient amount of time for another defense attorney to take over the case, removal may be considered.