Why do federal judges serve for life?
Asked by: Dr. Jaylon Hayes MD | Last update: February 1, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (1 votes)
Federal judges serve for life (technically "during good Behaviour") to ensure judicial independence, protecting them from political pressure, public opinion, and other branches of government so they can interpret the law impartially and uphold the Constitution without fear of losing their jobs, as established by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. This lifetime tenure allows them to make unpopular but legally sound decisions and serve as a check on power, ensuring a stable, non-political administration of justice.
Are there term limits for federal judges?
Article III states that these judges “hold their office during good behavior,” which means they have a lifetime appointment, except under very limited circumstances.
Who is the longest serving Supreme Court justice currently?
The longest-serving current U.S. Supreme Court Justice is Justice Clarence Thomas, who joined the Court on October 23, 1991, making him the only current Justice to have served since before the year 2000 and far surpassing the tenures of his colleagues.
Why are federal judges appointed for life in Federalist 78?
In the United States, Supreme Court justices have life tenure. Alexander Hamilton explains in Federalist #78 that the reasoning for this provision was so the justices' objectivity would be preserved by not having to stand for reelection/reappointment.
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 are Federal Judges impeached? Why do they serve for life?
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.
Can a lifetime appointed judge be removed?
Article III judges can be removed from office only through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate. Find brief biographies of all Article III judges since the nation's founding.
How did the Supreme Court go from 6 to 9 justices?
The Supreme Court went from 6 justices (its original number in 1789) to 9 by a series of Congressional acts, culminating in the Judiciary Act of 1869, which fixed the size at nine members (one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices) after fluctuating numbers during the Civil War and Reconstruction era, establishing the current size permanently.
Do federal judges have a lifetime salary?
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.
Can the president fire a Chief Justice?
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.
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.
What illness does Sotomayor have?
Sotomayor was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age seven and began taking daily insulin injections. Her father died of heart problems at age 42, when she was nine years old. After that, she became fluent in English.
Can a federal judge overrule the President?
The Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) implied, and later cases confirmed, that federal courts also possess authority to review the actions of the executive branch.
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.
Who was the shortest-serving Justice?
Which Chief Justice served the shortest Term? The shortest serving Chief Justice was John Rutledge who was appointed under a temporary commission because the Senate was in recess. He served for 5 months and 14 days before the Senate reconvened and rejected his nomination.
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.
What is the salary of a Supreme Court justice?
As of early 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice earns around $317,500, while Associate Justices earn about $303,600, with slight variations depending on the source and specific effective date, reflecting annual adjustments set by Congress. These figures represent significant increases over recent years, with salaries rising from the $274,200 (Associate) and $286,700 (Chief) in 2022.
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.
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.
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.
Can a president pardon an impeached judge?
The president may not grant a pardon in the impeachment case, but may in any resulting federal criminal case (unless it is the president who is convicted and thus loses the pardon power). However, whether the president can self-pardon for criminal offenses is an open question, which has never been reviewed by a court.
Has any president ignored a Supreme Court ruling?
Yes, presidents have ignored or defied Supreme Court rulings, most famously Andrew Jackson with the Cherokee Nation (Trail of Tears) and Abraham Lincoln by suspending habeas corpus, but this is rare and often leads to constitutional crises, with recent instances involving defiance in deportation cases under the Trump administration. Other examples include governors defying rulings on segregation (Faubus, Barnett) and FDR's stance on military tribunals, highlighting ongoing tensions between executive power and judicial authority.
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.
How many judges did Biden appoint to the Supreme Court?
The total number of Article III judges nominated by Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate was 235, including one associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, 45 judges for the United States courts of appeals, 187 judges for the United States district courts and two judges for the United States ...