What is the youngest a judge can be?
Asked by: Chanel Sauer | Last update: February 10, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (52 votes)
There's no single youngest age to be a judge, as requirements vary significantly by country and even local jurisdiction; however, in the U.S., federal judges have no minimum age, while state/local judges often need to be in their 20s or 30s with law experience, though some, like Jasmine Twitty (25), have made history as young municipal judges, and a Massachusetts teen became a youth judge at 16, showing that some youth-focused roles exist.
What is the youngest age to be a judge?
The Constitution does not provide any eligibility criteria – such as age, literacy, citizenship, legal education, legal/bar or any professional certification, and legal/judicial experience – for one to be appointed as a federal judge.
What is the youngest age to become a judge?
Qualifications & Eligibility Criteria to Become a Judge in India
- Minimum age: 21 years, maximum age: 35 years (varies slightly across states).
- Must have cleared the judicial services examination conducted by the respective state.
Is there an age requirement to be a judge?
Judge age limits vary significantly: federal judges have life tenure with no mandatory retirement, while most U.S. states have mandatory retirement ages for state judges, often around 70 but sometimes higher, like 90 in Vermont, though some states like California have no limit, and some countries impose limits or terms. The U.S. Constitution doesn't set age limits for federal judges, but state rules and international practices differ, reflecting debates about experience versus fitness for duty.
Will a judge listen to a 13 year old?
How Does California Consider a Child's Preference? Children 14 and older: A judge must hear their preference unless it is deemed not in their best interests. Children under 14: Judges have discretion on whether to consider their wishes.
Little Girl Damaged Woman's Car with Pole
How old are most judges?
America's judiciary is aging. The average age of federal judges is sixty- nine years old, older than it has been at any other time in the country's history. The typical reaction to this demographic shift is concern that aging judges will serve past their prime.
Who is the youngest judge of all time?
Mayank Pratap Singh from Jaipur made history youngest judge in India.
How many years to go to school to be a judge?
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. A full-time J.D. degree program takes three years to complete.
Who was the youngest Supreme Court justice?
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.
Who is the youngest black judge?
A 25-year-old Black woman is making history by becoming the youngest judge in the history of Easley, South Carolina. Jasmine Twitty — a graduate of the College of Charleston — has long been recognized for her dedication to developing young people into professionals.
Is there anyone higher than a judge?
The chief justice of the United States is the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States and is the highest-ranking officer of the U.S. federal judiciary.
What is the youngest judge in the US?
Twitty graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in political science. She previously worked for the Greenville County Bond Court as a night clerk. After completing a training program and passing a certification examination, Twitty was sworn in as a judge at the age of 25.
Is becoming a judge harder than a 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.
Can you impeach a judge?
Article III judges can be removed from office only through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
Can I be a judge without a law degree?
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.
Which judge has the highest salary?
The highest-paid judge in the U.S. federal system is the Chief Justice of the United States, earning $312,200 annually as of 2024, followed by Supreme Court Associate Justices at $298,500, while Judge Judy (Judy Sheindlin) earned significantly more ($47 million/year) in her television role before retiring, highlighting that entertainment judges far out-earn public officials.
Who is the best judge of all time?
The Greatest Judges of All Time: the Titans who defied history
- RUTH BADER GINSBURG (UNITED STATES, 1933-2020)
- THURGOOD MARSHALL (UNITED STATES, 1908-1993)
- LOUIS BRANDEIS (UNITED STATES, 1856-1941)
- JEAN-JACQUES CAMBACÉRÈS (FRANCE, 1753-1824)
- SALADIN (MIDDLE EAST, 1137-1193)
- THE ENDURING LEGACY: WHEN COURAGE CONQUERS FEAR.
What is the lowest age to become a judge?
Candidates must be at least 21 years old to apply for the Civil Judge post, with a maximum age limit of 35 years. Age relaxation of five years for SC and ST category of MP, three years for Temporary/Permanent Workers of MP, and ten years for Women (SC/ST/OBC/Unreserved).
Is there a minimum age for judges?
The Constitution sets forth no specific requirements.
Can you be a judge at 25?
Some types of judgeships require more experience than others. In Texas, for example, a county criminal court judge must be at least 25 years old and have 4 years of experience practicing law, but a criminal appeals court judge must be at least 35 years old and have 10 years of experience as a lawyer or judge.
Why do judges retire at 70?
Requiring judges to retire at age 70, or at any particular age, is rooted in the idea that litigants are entitled to mentally competent judges. While there is no exact correlation between age and mental competency, there is a general correlation between the two.
What gender are most judges?
Federal judges appointed by recent presidents
As of Aug. 1, 2024, the Senate had confirmed 200 judicial nominees by President Joe Biden. Nearly two-thirds (63%) were women. Among other recent presidents, only Barack Obama (42%) can say that nearly half of his appointments were women.