Who was the only impeached Supreme Court justice?

Asked by: Ramona Considine  |  Last update: July 12, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (3 votes)

Associate Justice Samuel Chase is the only United States Supreme Court justice to have ever been impeached.

Has any Supreme Court justice ever been impeached?

It also states that justices shall hold office only during “good Behavior.” Justice Samuel Chase, a Federalist, was impeached in 1804 and tried in 1805 for his intemperate and partisan behavior on the bench. To this date, he is the only Supreme Court justice Congress ever impeached.

Why did David Souter leave the Supreme Court?

Souter apparently became satisfied that no other justices planned to retire at the end of the Supreme Court's term in June 2009. As a result, in mid-April 2009 he privately notified the White House of his intent to retire at the conclusion of that term.

Who are the 4 horsemen of the Supreme Court?

The "Four Horsemen" was the popular nickname given to a conservative bloc of U.S. Supreme Court Justices during the 1930s who consistently struck down President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic legislation.

Has any President ignored a Supreme Court order?

In two notable nineteenth-century cases—Worcester v. Georgia (1832) and Ex parte Merryman (1861)—presidents took no action to enforce Supreme Court rulings under circumstances where many argued that they were obligated to do so.

How Do You Impeach a Supreme Court Justice?

16 related questions found

Can Trump be removed from office?

Considered scenarios. Four scenarios for the removal of Trump from office had been posited by members of Congress, members of Trump's cabinet, political commentators, or legal scholars: resignation, the invocation of the 14th Amendment, invocation of the 25th Amendment, or impeachment and conviction.

What are 5 things the president can't do?

The U.S. Constitution creates a strict system of checks and balances, meaning the president does not have absolute authority. Under this framework, a president cannot make laws, declare war, spend unappropriated money, interpret the Constitution, or make top appointments without Senate confirmation.

What is considered the worst Supreme Court case ever?

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) is widely considered the worst Supreme Court decision in U.S. history, famously described as the Court's "greatest self-inflicted wound". It held that African Americans could not be citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in territories, directly accelerating the Civil War.

What was Sonia Sotomayor's illness?

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 69, has managed Type 1 diabetes since age 7, using insulin injections and, more recently, a continuous glucose monitor. While she has experienced hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) incidents requiring medical attention, she remains actively on the bench, with supporters dismissing retirement calls based on her health as ableism.

How many husbands did Ruth Bader Ginsburg have?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice,

She married Martin D. 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.

Who is the greatest judge of all time?

In the United States, John Marshall is universally regarded as the greatest judge in American history. As the longest-serving Chief Justice, he authored Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established the doctrine of judicial review and solidified the Supreme Court as a co-equal branch of government.

Do retired Supreme Court justices get a pension?

Retiring U.S. Supreme Court justices are entitled to a lifetime pension equal to their highest full salary. In order to qualify for a full pension, retiring justices must have served for a minimum of 10 years provided the sum of the justice's age and years of Supreme Court service totals 80.

Can a U.S. president remove a Supreme Court justice?

No, a U.S. President cannot remove a Supreme Court Justice. Supreme Court Justices have lifetime tenure under Article III of the Constitution, serving during "good behavior". They can only be removed by Congress through the, rarely used, process of impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate.

Who is the only person to have served as U.S. president and a Supreme Court justice?

William Howard Taft was elected the 27th President of the United States (1909-1913) and later became the tenth Chief Justice of the United States (1921-1930), the only person to have served in both of these offices.

Which founding father was impeached?

In 1804, Chase was impeached by the House of Representatives on grounds of letting his partisan leanings affect his court decisions, but was acquitted the following year by the Senate and remained in office. He is the only United States Supreme Court Justice to have ever been impeached.

Who is the highest paid judge in the United States?

As of January 2026, the highest-paid judges in the U.S. are Supreme Court Justices, with the Chief Justice earning approximately $320,700 and Associate Justices earning $306,600. They are followed by federal appellate court judges ($264,900) and district court judges ($249,900). State-level judges in California, Illinois, and New York top state salary lists.

What is the US president's salary?

As of May 2026, the President of the United States earns a base salary of $400,000 per year, paid monthly, along with a $50,000 non-taxable expense allowance. This salary has remained unchanged since 1999.

Is the president's salary taxable?

Yes, the President of the United States' annual salary of $400,000 is considered taxable income subject to federal and state income taxes, as well as Medicare and Social Security withholding. However, the additional $50,000 expense allowance provided for official duties is not included in gross income and is not taxed.

Has any president ignored a Supreme Court ruling?

Yes, U.S. presidents have historically ignored or defied Supreme Court rulings, though direct, open disobedience of a final order is rare. The most prominent examples involve Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, who took actions that challenged or ignored the judicial branch during significant political or wartime crises.

What does "oye oye oye" mean in court?

"Oyez, oyez, oyez" (pronounced oh-yay) is a traditional court call meaning "Hear ye!" or "Listen!" Derived from Anglo-Norman French and used three times, it serves as a formal command to command silence and attention at the opening of a court session, particularly in the Supreme Court of the United States.

What is the stupidest court case?

1: Spilling the (Coffee) Beans

When she contacted McDonald's about compensating her for the medical bills, the restaurant chain took her to court. After a weeklong trial, the jury awarded Liebeck $160,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages, which a court later reduced to $480,000.

Which President fathered a child at 70?

Tenth U.S. President John Tyler fathered his 15th and final child, Pearl, in 1860 at the age of 70. He holds the record for the most children fathered by any American president, spanning a 45-year period.

Can Obama run for President again in 2028?

Barack Obama cannot run for president again in 2028. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution permanently prohibits any individual from being elected to the presidency more than twice, regardless of whether those terms were consecutive. Because Obama has already served two full terms (2009–2017), he is legally barred from the ballot.

What is Obama's nickname?

Barack Obama’s most common nickname is "Barry," which he used throughout his childhood and high school years.