Did any of the Supreme Court justices go to Harvard?

Asked by: Kellen Wiza  |  Last update: June 5, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (28 votes)

Yes, several current U.S. Supreme Court Justices attended Harvard Law School for their J.D., including Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Ketanji Brown Jackson; it's a common path, with many current justices having degrees from either Harvard or Yale Law School.

Which Supreme Court justices went to Harvard?

John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States,

He received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1976 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1979.

Why did Ruth Bader Ginsburg transfer out of Harvard?

Her husband recovered from cancer, graduated from Harvard, and moved to New York City to accept a position at a law firm there. Ruth Bader Ginsburg had one more year of law school left, so she transferred to Columbia Law School and served on their law review as well.

How many Supreme Court justices went to Harvard Suits?

In this episode Mike (Patrick J. Adams) correctly answers that 6 supreme court judges came from Harvard. This answer was given to him in Series 1 episode 1 (Pilot (2011)), when the tour guide says it to him and prospective students.

Did Ruth Bader Ginsburg graduate from Harvard Law School?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice,

Ginsburg in 1954, and has a daughter, Jane, and a son, James. She received her B.A. from Cornell University, attended Harvard Law School, and received her LL. B. from Columbia Law School.

HLS in the World | A Conversation with Six Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court

44 related questions found

Where did Chief Justice Roberts go to law school?

In 1976, he received his bachelor's degree from Harvard, summa cum laude , after only three years. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he was managing editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated magna cum laude in 1979. The year after he graduated from law school, Roberts clerked for Justice Henry J.

Who appointed more judges, Trump or Obama?

President Obama appointed more federal judges overall (around 320-330) compared to Trump (around 220-240) during their respective presidencies, but Trump appointed more to the influential Circuit Courts and notably appointed three Supreme Court justices in one term, compared to Obama's two, making Trump's impact on the courts arguably deeper despite fewer total numbers. 

Does Mike Ross ever become a real lawyer?

Yes, Mike Ross does become a real, licensed lawyer by the end of Suits, passing the bar exam through an apprenticeship loophole (reading the law) and special bar committee approval, allowing him to practice legitimately after his time in prison, eventually leading him to start his own public interest firm in Seattle.
 

Which Supreme Court justice did not go to law school?

Associate Justice James F. Byrnes, whose short tenure lasted from June 1941 to October 1942, was the last Justice without a law degree to be appointed; Stanley Forman Reed, who served on the Court from 1938 to 1957, was the last sitting Justice from such a background.

Which billionaire dropped out of Harvard?

Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to pursue his software company, although he states “if things hadn't worked out, I could always go back to school. I was officially on leave.”

What was Ruth Bader Ginsburg's GPA?

Over the course of her arguments before the high court, Ginsburg continued to improve, earning some Bs and B-s from the justice. Her final GPA was a 2.8.

Can a sitting president remove a Supreme Court justice?

No, a President cannot remove a Supreme Court Justice; only Congress can remove a Justice through the impeachment process, requiring a House vote to impeach and a Senate conviction for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," as Justices hold office "during good Behaviour" (lifetime tenure unless removed). 

What is the #1 law school in the USA?

There isn't one single #1 law school, as rankings vary, but Yale University, Stanford University, and Harvard University consistently dominate the top spots, often tying for first place in major rankings like U.S. News & World Report. For the 2025 rankings, U.S. News lists Yale and Stanford tied for #1, while others like TestMax place Harvard at #1. 

Who is the most famous student at Harvard?

There's no single "most famous" as it's subjective, but Barack Obama (44th U.S. President) and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook founder) are consistently ranked at the top for global recognition, alongside historical figures like John F. Kennedy and tech titan Bill Gates, though Gates is a dropout. Other highly famous alumni include Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, actress Natalie Portman, and former VP Al Gore.
 

What is Mike Ross's IQ?

Mike Ross's IQ isn't officially stated in Suits, but fans and analyses estimate it's extremely high (around 150-190+) due to his photographic/eidetic memory, allowing him to recall vast amounts of legal information, making him a savant in law despite lacking a degree, a trait often associated with exceptional cognitive abilities and fast learning. 

Can you take the NY bar without going to law school?

The applicant must study law in the law office for a period of four years under the supervision of an attorney who is admitted to practice law in New York . (Credit toward this four year requirement is given for successfully completed semesters in an ABA approved law school.)

How accurate is Suits about law?

Its portrayal of legal practice may be far from real-world defense law. Still, it presents an engaging narrative that captures the imagination of viewers who might not be familiar with the intricacies of the legal system or how a defense lawyer must work within the rules.

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.

How much do Supreme Court justices make?

As of January 2024, a U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice earns $298,500 annually, while the Chief Justice earns $312,200; these figures are set to increase, with projections for 2025 showing $303,600 for Associate Justices and $317,500 for the Chief Justice, according to data from the Federal Judicial Center and the U.S. Courts. 

How many judges can Biden have?

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 ...

Which school has the most Supreme Court justices?

Between 1902 and 2010, fifty-six justices were confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Included in this number are nineteen Harvard and Yale law graduates, accounting for a total of approximately 34 percent. Since 1980, Harvard and Yale graduates have accounted for approximately 82 percent of confirmed justices.

Who is the longest chief justice?

The longest serving Chief Justice was Chief Justice John Marshall who served for 34 years, 5 months and 11 days from 1801 to 1835.

What is the CJi's salary?

The salary for the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (CJI) is $320,700 annually as of 2026, according to the US Courts website. Other salary data on "CJI" refers to different roles, like the Criminal Justice Institute (e.g., $152,504 for a Director at the Arkansas CJI) or various private companies (CJI, Inc., CJI LLC) with much lower average wages, so context is key.