Has there ever been a Supreme court justice without a law degree?
Asked by: Dr. Nicholas Hammes DDS | Last update: December 15, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (55 votes)
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. Byrnes (1941-1942).
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.
Are there any federal judges without law degrees?
Interestingly, a candidate for a federal judge position does not even need to have a law degree to be nominated. Naturally, the senators involved in confirming an appointment will usually review a candidate's background and will be unlikely to confirm an appointment if a candidate lacks relevant experience.
Do Supreme Court judges have to go to law school?
As for law school, four states, the most important of which is California, allow someone to take the bar exam through independent study, but all other states require law school.
Which judge does not have to be a lawyer?
Surprisingly, there are two important instances where a non-attorney can become a judge: One is on the United States Supreme Court (there have been non-attorney justices) and the other is at the least end of the scale, in many states the lowest level judge (called a Justice Court Judge in Mississippi) does not have to ...
Why aren't Supreme Court Justices required to have a law degree?
Does Kamala Harris have a law degree?
She graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. Harris then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, where she served as president of its chapter of the Black Law Students Association. She graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1989.
Who is currently the youngest US Supreme Court justice?
Who is the youngest Supreme Court Justice? Amy Coney Barrett is the youngest Supreme Court Justice. She was appointed by former President Donald Trump.
Has there ever been a Supreme Court justice that was not a lawyer?
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 a Supreme Court justice be removed by the president?
Article III states that these judges “hold their office during good behavior,” which means they have a lifetime appointment, except under very limited circumstances. Article III judges can be removed from office only through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate.
How do you address a retired judge?
Whether walking into a local restaurant or attending a community event, former judges will continue to be addressed as “judge.” Judges will be hired for jobs not only for their judicial experience, but also for the positive “label” that having a former judge on payroll will bring.
Can someone without a law degree represent you in court?
In court cases, you can represent yourself or be represented by a lawyer. Even for simple and routine matters, you can't go to court for someone else without a law license.
Who can overrule a judge?
Most federal court decisions, and some state court rulings, can be challenged. The U.S. courts of appeals usually have the last word. The nation's 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a court of appeals.
What president appointed the most Supreme Court justices?
George Washington holds the record for most Supreme Court nominations, with 14 nominations (12 of which were confirmed).
Can you be a judge in the US without a law degree?
Not every type of judgeship requires that you get a law degree and become a lawyer. But if you want to qualify to become a judge in a higher court, you must attend an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school and get a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
Which Justice went to Notre Dame law school?
Justice Barrett earned her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1997, graduating first in her class. In 2002, she joined the Law School faculty as a professor of law, where her expertise included the areas of federal courts, constitutional law, and statutory interpretation.
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 ...
How many hours do Supreme Court judges work?
They generally work much more than 40 hours/week. They each have clerks assigned to them, which is a highly prized job for an attorney. A number of Supreme Court justices had previously served as clerks to justices.
Who was the shortest serving Supreme Court justice?
John Rutledge, who served on the court twice, was both the shortest serving associate justice, with a tenure of 383 days (1 year, 18 days), and the shortest serving chief justice, with a tenure of 138 days (4 months 16 days).
Can a person sue a Supreme Court justice?
The principle of absolute immunity shields government officials from being sued while they serve in an official capacity and it extends to judicial officers, including court judges.
Who was the Supreme Court justice that disappeared?
Just over 100 years ago, Easton, Pa., native Joseph Force Crater graduated from Lafayette and went on to become a New York State Supreme Court Justice, appointed in 1930 by then-Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. Then four months later, he disappeared.
Is there an age limit for Supreme Court justices?
Supreme court justices may be appointed for a term of years, have a mandatory retirement age, or given 'life tenure' with a mandatory retirement age. Mandatory retirement age ranges from 60 – 75 years. Judges serving on constitutional courts usually serve a single 7 – 12-year term.
Who was the first black justice of the Supreme Court?
Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American to take the oath of office as a Supreme Court Justice on October 2, 1967. President Johnson observed, “Thurgood Marshall symbolizes what is best about our American society: the belief that human rights must be satisfied through the orderly processes of law. …