How many terms can you serve in the Supreme Court?
Asked by: Giovanny Kerluke V | Last update: February 2, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (40 votes)
U.S. Supreme Court Justices currently have life tenure under the Constitution ("good Behaviour"), meaning no federal term limits exist, unlike most state high courts or other democracies, leading to debates over prolonged influence, strategic retirements, and politicization, with proposals like 18-year staggered terms (appointing one justice every two years) gaining traction as a reform measure.
Is there a term limit on Supreme Court justices?
“Unlike nearly every other democracy in the world, we allow justices to serve indefinitely, with no limits on their terms as justices. Some presidents have appointed no justices; others appointed a third of the Court in a single term.
How many years has Clarence Thomas served?
Clarence Thomas has served on the U.S. Supreme Court since October 23, 1991, making his tenure over 34 years as of late 2025, when he became the fifth-longest-serving justice in history, appointed by President George H.W. Bush to succeed Thurgood Marshall. He is the longest-serving current justice and the second-longest-serving African American justice.
Who served 34 years as Chief Justice?
John Marshall served as the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court for 34 years, from 1801 until his death in 1835, making him the longest-serving Chief Justice in American history and establishing the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government through landmark decisions like Marbury v. Madison.
How long can someone serve in the Supreme Court?
Supreme court justices may be appointed for a term of years, have a mandatory retirement age, or be given 'life tenure' with a mandatory retirement age. Mandatory retirement age ranges from 60 – 75 years.
SCOTUS Justices: How Long Do They Serve on the Supreme Court?
Can the president overturn 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.
How long did Ruth Bader Ginsburg serve on the Supreme Court?
On September 18, 2020, former President Clinton released a statement concerning the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He stated that: her 27 years on the Court exceeded even my highest expectations when I appointed her.
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.
What is the salary of the Chief Justice?
The salary for the U.S. Chief Justice is set by Congress, with the rate for 2024 being $312,200 annually, increasing to $317,500 in 2025, while Associate Justices earn slightly less. State chief justices have different salaries, such as Maryland's Chief Justice earning $255,433 as of July 1, 2025, and Nebraska's Chief Justice earning $231,857.65 as of July 1, 2026, highlighting significant variations across jurisdictions.
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.
Who is the most powerful judge in the United States?
The most powerful judge in the United States is generally considered to be the Chief Justice of the United States, currently John G. Roberts, Jr., because he leads the Supreme Court, heads the entire federal judiciary, and holds significant influence in shaping legal precedent and the Court's direction, even if his vote is just one of nine. His power comes from judicial leadership, managing close cases, and influencing the institutional reputation of the Supreme Court.
Who did Obama appoint to the Supreme Court?
On March 16, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to succeed Antonin Scalia, who had died one month earlier.
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.
Can the president change the number of Supreme Court justices?
No, the President cannot directly change the number of Supreme Court Justices; only Congress has that power by passing a law, but the President must sign that law for it to take effect, meaning both branches must agree, as seen with the Judiciary Act of 1869 fixing the number at nine. While presidents appoint justices, they can only fill existing vacancies or new ones Congress creates, as the Constitution doesn't set the court's size, allowing Congress to adjust it as a legislative check.
Can you become a judge without being a lawyer?
In 24 states in the U.S., a person without prior legal experience can become a judge and preside over some judicial cases. In Pennsylvania, for example, magisterial district-court judges don't have to take the state's 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.
What is judge Judy's salary?
Judge Judy Sheindlin earned a reported $47 million annually for hosting her hit show, a figure she negotiated for years, making her one of the world's highest-paid TV hosts before the show ended in 2021. This substantial income came from her salary, plus a significant $100 million payout for selling the show's library rights to CBS. She continued earning large sums with her subsequent shows, Judy Justice and Justice on Trial, streaming on Amazon/Prime Video.
What is a senator's salary?
A U.S. Senator's base salary is $174,000 annually, a rate set in 2009, with leaders earning more, like Majority/Minority Leaders and the President pro tempore at $193,400, while other income can come from prior careers or expense reimbursements, according to Congress.gov.
Does the US president get a pension?
Former presidents receive a pension equal to the salary of a Cabinet secretary (Executive Level I); as of 2020, it was $219,200 per year and since January 2022, $226,300. The pension begins immediately after a president's departure from office.
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.
How did Trump appoint so many Supreme Court justices?
The Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett confirmations were enabled by a rule change made by Senate Republicans in 2017, which applied the 'nuclear option' to Supreme Court nominees and allowed nominations to be advanced by a simple majority vote rather than the historical norm of a three-fifths supermajority vote.
Who can overrule the president?
Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, making a bill law without the President's signature, while the Vice President and Cabinet can initiate the process under the 25th Amendment to declare the President unable to serve, and the Supreme Court can declare executive actions unconstitutional, though Congress ultimately controls impeachment.
Who did Clinton put on the Supreme Court?
On March 19, 1993, Associate Justice Byron White announced his retirement (and assumption of senior status), which ultimately took effect June 28, 1993. President Clinton announced Ruth Bader Ginsburg as White's replacement on June 15, 1993, and she was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 3, 1993.
What is Ruth Bader Ginsburg's most famous quote?
“Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
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.