Do Supreme Court justices have to have a law degree?
Asked by: Cameron Marquardt I | Last update: February 13, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (42 votes)
No, U.S. Supreme Court justices are not required by the Constitution to have a law degree, or any specific degree or experience, though all have been trained in law, often through mentorship or law school. The Constitution sets no qualifications for justices, but in practice, candidates are typically experienced lawyers with advanced legal education, as the Court deals with complex legal matters.
How many Supreme Court justices have no law degree?
In total, of the 114 justices appointed to the Court, 49 have had law degrees, an additional 18 attended some law school but did not receive a degree, and 47 received their legal education without any law school attendance. Currently serving justices are listed in bold below.
Do Supreme Court justices need to be lawyers?
A Justice does not have to be a lawyer or a law school graduate, but all Justices have been trained in the law. Many of the 18th and 19th century Justices studied law under a mentor because there were few law schools in the country. The last Justice to be appointed who did not attend any law school was James F.
Can you be a judge without a law degree in the USA?
Federal judges include Supreme Court justices, court of appeals judges, and district court judges. These are all nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. They are all appointed for a life term. A federal judge is not even required to possess a law degree!
Was there ever a Supreme Court justice who was not a lawyer?
Jackson was the most recent U.S. Supreme Court justice who did not earn a law degree.
Why aren't Supreme Court Justices required to have a law degree?
What is considered the worst Supreme Court case ever?
While subjective, Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) is widely considered the worst Supreme Court case ever for denying Black people citizenship, fueling slavery, and pushing the nation toward Civil War, with other notorious decisions including Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) (sanctioning segregation) and Korematsu v. United States (1944) (upholding Japanese internment). More recent controversial rulings often cited include Citizens United v. FEC (2010) (campaign finance) and Kelo v. New London (2005) (eminent domain).
Did Robert H. Jackson have a law degree?
Despite a modest education, no college degree, and only one year of classes at Albany Law School, Jackson spent approximately 20 years as a successful attorney in Jamestown, New York (within the Western District of New York) before going to Washington, D.C.
Which judge does not require a law degree?
Depending upon the state, the positions nonlawyers can fill include justices of the peace, magistrates, municipal judges or probate judges. The types of cases over which they preside vary by state but can include eviction, probate and civil disputes with limits on the financial stake.
What are the three requirements to be a Supreme Court justice?
Generally speaking, there are no formal requirements in the Constitution for who may serve as a Supreme Court justice. Article II, Section 2, sets out the appointment power. Here's the text of Article II, Section 2: The president “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint . . .
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 the president remove justices from the Supreme Court?
No, a President cannot remove a Supreme Court Justice; only Congress has the power to do so through the impeachment process (House impeaches, Senate convicts) for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," ensuring judicial independence and lifetime tenure ("good behavior") for Article III judges.
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.
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.
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.
Where did Alito get his law degree?
Samuel Alito went to Yale Law School, graduating with his J.D. in 1975, after completing his undergraduate degree at Princeton University. While at Yale, he served as an editor for the Yale Law Journal.
Has anyone been a lawyer without going to law school?
A number of historical figures became lawyers without law school, such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. It wasn't until the late 1700s or early 1800s that colleges started to offer law degrees, which was an alternative to an apprenticeship.
Who is the youngest Supreme Court justice ever?
The youngest Supreme Court Justice ever appointed was Joseph Story, who joined the court in 1812 at the age of 32, a record that still stands. He was nominated by President James Madison and served on the court for over 30 years, becoming a key figure in American constitutional law.
Can the Senate refuse to confirm a Supreme Court justice?
A simple majority vote is required to confirm or to reject a nominee. Historically, such rejections are relatively uncommon. Of the 37 unsuccessful Supreme Court nominations since 1789, only 11 nominees have been rejected in a Senate roll-call vote.
How did John Roberts get to be Chief Justice?
On September 29, 2005, then-Judge Roberts was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and, after remarks by President George W. Bush, was sworn-in as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States by Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, in the East Room of the White House.
What states allow you to be a judge without being a lawyer?
Thirty-one states have some courts where judges do not have to be a lawyer (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South ...
Did any Supreme Court justices go 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.
Is it harder to become a judge or 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.
Which president became a lawyer without going to law school?
Abraham Lincoln is the most famous U.S. President who became a lawyer without attending law school, as he was largely self-taught and studied law books before passing the Illinois bar exam in 1836 through an apprenticeship model common in his era, a path also taken by other early presidents like Andrew Jackson, John Adams, and James Madison.
Is Lawbymike actually a lawyer?
I've represented hundreds of clients over my 12+ years as a practicing attorney. Understanding the law can be challenging, but I've made it my mission to educate YOU about your most important legal rights in a way that will actually make sense.
Who was OJ Simpson's best lawyer?
While "best" is subjective, Johnnie Cochran is widely considered the most prominent and influential lawyer for O.J. Simpson, leading the "Dream Team" defense with his charisma and memorable tactics, like "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit," securing acquittal in the criminal trial. Other key members included Robert Shapiro, F. Lee Bailey, Barry Scheck, and Robert Kardashian, with Cochran often seen as the strategic leader connecting with the jury.