Has a Supreme Court justice ever been forced to resign?
Asked by: Dallin Murazik | Last update: February 17, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (54 votes)
Yes, Justice Abe Fortas was forced to resign from the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969 under threat of impeachment due to financial scandals involving accepting money from a foundation connected to a convicted financier, becoming the first (and so far, only) Supreme Court Justice to step down under such pressure. While no other Supreme Court justice has been forced out, other justices have resigned for various reasons, including ill health, political disagreements, or personal reasons, and some federal judges have faced impeachment and removal.
Can a Supreme Court justice be forced to resign?
The court consists of nine justices—the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices—who meet at the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. Justices have lifetime tenure, meaning they remain on the court until they die, retire, resign, or are impeached and removed from office.
Who was the last Supreme Court justice to resign?
Stephen Gerald Breyer (/ˈbraɪ. ər/, BRY-ər; born August 15, 1938) is an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1994 until his retirement in 2022. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton, and replaced retiring justice Harry Blackmun.
Has any Supreme Court justice ever been removed from office?
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 a president get rid of Supreme Court justices?
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.
The Supreme Court Case That Forced a President to Resign
Can the president override a Supreme Court ruling?
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.
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").
On what grounds can you impeach a Supreme Court justice?
If they become corrupt or sit in cases in which they have a personal or family stake, they can be impeached by Congress. ).
Who is the only person to have served as US president and a Supreme Court justice?
William Howard Taft is the only person to serve as both U.S. president and Supreme Court Chief Justice during his career.
Who is the only US president to be impeached twice?
Donald Trump is the only U.S. President to have been impeached twice, first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the January 6 Capitol attack, though he was acquitted in both Senate trials.
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.
What is the CJi's salary?
The salary for the Chief Justice of the United States (CJI) is approximately $286,700 annually as of January 2026, while Associate Justices earn around $274,200; however, some sources show higher figures like $320,700 for the Chief Justice in 2026, depending on the specific data source and potential adjustments for federal judges, but generally, it's in the high $200,000s to low $300,000s.
Has a Supreme Court decision ever been overturned?
Yes, the U.S. Supreme Court frequently reverses its own prior decisions and those of lower courts, a process known as overturning precedent, with famous examples including Brown v. Board of Education (overruling Plessy v. Ferguson) and West Coast Hotel v. Parrish (ending the Lochner era), demonstrating the Court's ability to correct perceived errors and adapt to changing societal understanding.
Can Congress remove the Supreme Court?
Congress cannot abolish the high court. See . it would be anomalous for the Constitution to provide that, once a court was established, Congress could never eliminate it.
Can the president fire the vice president?
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress the authority to remove the vice president of the United States from office in two separate proceedings. The first one takes place in the House of Representatives, which impeaches the vice president by approving articles of impeachment through a simple majority vote.
Do federal judges get salary for life?
Yes, federal judges (Article III judges, including Supreme Court justices) receive a lifetime pension, often called an annuity, equal to their final salary when they retire, provided they meet age and service requirements (usually the "Rule of 80" - age plus years of service equals 80). They can also choose to take "senior status," which allows them to continue working with a reduced caseload while still receiving their full salary and benefits, including cost-of-living adjustments. This system provides judicial independence but also allows for eventual retirement, with survivors' benefits also available.
Which US president weighed 350 lbs on his inauguration day?
President Taft was a huge man, weighing more than 300 pounds. A special bathtub was installed for him in the White House, big enough to hold four men. Fast Fact: William Howard Taft: the only man to become President and then chief justice.
Did President Obama appoint any Supreme Court justices?
President Barack Obama made two successful appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States. The first was Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice David H. Souter. Sotomayor was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 6, 2009, by a vote of 68–31.
Who is the only Supreme Court justice to be impeached?
Remembered largely as the only Supreme Court justice to ever have faced impeachment proceedings, Samuel Chase served as an associate justice from 1796 to 1811. Chase was born in 1741 in Maryland as the only child of Reverend Thomas Chase and his wife, Matilda Walker.
Can a US president remove a Supreme Court justice?
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.
Can the president overturn 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.
Can you become 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.
Can voters remove a Supreme Court judge?
Article II of the California Constitution, approved by California voters in 1911, allows people to recall and remove elected officials and justices of the State Supreme Court from office.
Does the president have control of the Supreme Court?
The president nominates Supreme Court justices, but the Senate has the sole power to confirm those appointments.
Can Supreme Court rulings be appealed?
Once review in the California Supreme Court has been exhausted, it is possible to seek review in federal court by petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court filed within 90 days of the denial of petition for review by the California Supreme Court.