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There are no age requirements for Supreme Court justices. In fact, unlike candidates for Congress and the Presidency, there are no constitutional requirements at all. This doesn't mean the President could nominate a 10-year-old; he's (or she's) expected to select someone with appropriate qualifications, or the Senate will reject the nomination.

This is what happened when former President George W. Bush nominated White House Counsel Harriet Miers for a position on the Supreme Court. The American Bar Association declared her unqualified, the Senate Judiciary Committee protested, and her name was formally withdrawn.

Most US Supreme Court justices are appointed while in their 40s and 50s.

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βˆ™ 13y ago
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βˆ™ 14y ago

The Constitution does not set minimum or maximum age requirements for Supreme Court justices.

There are no constitutional age, residency, citizenship, or educational requirements for Supreme Court justices. This does not mean the President could appoint a five-year-old child to the Supreme Court, as some have suggested, only that the Constitution is silent on the subject, leaving the practical questions to the current government.

The unwritten requirements for Supreme Court Justices can be quite stringent. In practice, Presidents always appoint highly qualified lawyers, many who have additional experience as judges, to serve on the Supreme Court. As a result, appointees are usually in their 50s at the time of their appointment. The youngest Justice to the Supreme Court was Joseph Story at 32 years old, but that was way back in 1812.

When deciding whom to appoint, Presidents often have to strike a balance - they want someone who is well educated and knowledgeable, and gaining such experience takes time. However, they also want appointees to be as young as possible, since Supreme Court justices can serve for life, the President usually wants someone who will likely be able to serve for a few decades, allowing them to make a lasting impact on the court's jurisprudence.

Many people believe that the lack of an age limit or a term limit helps SCOTUS remain an impartial body. It prevents one President from having the power to appoint a large number of justices that will, more than likely, side with the serving President's views. Others believe many justices serve beyond their intellectual capacity or too rigid to adapt to a changing Court.

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βˆ™ 13y ago

There is no minimum age specified in the US Constitution for someone to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. As a practical matter, however, it is highly unlikely that the Senate would approve a nominee to the Supreme Court who does not have a law degree and has not practiced law for a number of years.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

There are actually no requirements except appointment by the president and consent of the senate.

Theoretically you could be a 20-year-old law student

Of course, practically, a candidate will probably have a successful record as a judge.

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βˆ™ 10y ago

A Supreme Court justice must be at least 30 years of age. He or she must be licensed to practice law in the state where he or she is sitting as a judge.

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βˆ™ 13y ago

The Constitution does not specify a minimum or maximum age, but you must have appropriate experience. Most US Supreme Court judges are appointed while in their 40s and 50s.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

It doesn't matter

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βˆ™ 12y ago

20 years old

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βˆ™ 12y ago

There is no age requirement.

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Q: What are the age requirements for appointment to the US Supreme Court?
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What is the required age for supreme court justice?

There are no explicit requirements in the U.S. Constitution for a person to be nominated to become a Supreme Court justice. No age, education, job experience, or citizenship rules exist. In fact, according to the Constitution, a Supreme Court justice does not need to even have a law degree.


Which is not a suspect classification according to the Supreme Court?

age


Does a justice have to be at least 30 years old to be appointed to the US Supreme Court?

No. There are no constitutional age, residency, citizenship, or educational requirements for justices of the US Supreme Court. In practice, however, most nominees are in their late 40s, 50s, or (sometimes) early 60s, so they've had time to develop professionally but can still contribute to the court for several decades. The youngest justice appointed to the US Supreme Court was Joseph Story, who was 32 years old when he was seated in 1812.


What is the maximum age limit for US Supreme Court justices?

There are currently no age requirements mandating retirement of Supreme Court justices, although Congress has entertained legislation hoping to encourage earlier retirement in the past. Their efforts are hampered by a constitutional provision of Article III that says justices shall "hold their offices during good behavior," which prevents Congress from mandating retirement unless the justice becomes mentally incapacitated. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., served on the Court until he was 90 years old; Justice John Paul Stevens, an incumbent on the Court, turned 90 in April 2010. Some states require their supreme court justices retire at a certain age, which varies by state.


Does a Supreme Court Justice have to be a male?

Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan are current Supreme Court justices. They are women. Sandra Day O'Connor is a former Supreme Court justice. She is also a woman. There are no constitutional qualifications for Supreme Court Justices. No age requirement, education requirement, or even a citizenship requirement. Never mind a protected class.

Related questions

What age requirement for the supreme court justice?

There are no explicit requirements in the U.S. Constitution for a person to be nominated to become a Supreme Court justice. No age, education, job experience, or citizenship rules exist. In fact, according to the Constitution, a Supreme Court justice does not need to even have a law degree.


What are 2 requirements to join the supereme court?

To join the Supreme Court of the United States, a person must be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Additionally, there are no specific qualifications or requirements in terms of age, education, or profession set forth in the U.S. Constitution for justices of the Supreme Court.


What is the required age for supreme court justice?

There are no explicit requirements in the U.S. Constitution for a person to be nominated to become a Supreme Court justice. No age, education, job experience, or citizenship rules exist. In fact, according to the Constitution, a Supreme Court justice does not need to even have a law degree.


What is the retirement age for a supreme court judge?

The retirement age of a supreme court judge is at 65 years of age.


What are the requirements for a Supreme Court justice to receive full retirement benefits?

He or she must be a minimum of 70 years of age and have served for at least 10 years.


Which age the Judges of the Supreme Court retire at?

at the age of 65.


What is the retirement-age of the judges of the supreme court?

at the age of 65


Which is not a suspect classification according to the Supreme Court?

age


Are the qualifications for a US Supreme Court justice the same for the President?

No. The Constitution doesn't list any requirements for Supreme Court nominees; the appropriate qualifications are left to the President and Congress to determine, and have evolved over the years. There is no "natural born" citizen or minimum age mandate, either.


What is the tenure of a judge of the Supreme Court in India?

In India the supreme court judge term is not fixed.A supreme court continues to hold the post until he achieves the age of superannuation.i.e,65 years.


What is the retirement age of judge of supreme court of Pakistan?

60


What age do you have to be as a Supreme Court judge in Arkansas?

at least 40