The President nominates new members to the Supreme Court, but the Senate must approve the nomination by a majority vote. This is part of the system of checks and balances that is supposed to prevent abuse of power.
Explanation
When there is a vacancy on the bench the President (Executive branch) nominates a person to be a Supreme Court justice. Usually, the President receives recommendations from trusted advisors, or may have someone in mind whom an earlier President appointed to a US Court of Appeals Circuit Court to gain judicial experience.
The FBI investigates the nominee's background and returns a report to the Department of Justice, which compiles a report for the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Committee considers the candidate's judicial and personal record to determine suitability for office, then holds a hearing to question him or her about judicial record, political philosophy, ideology, and anything else they find appropriate. The Committee discusses the findings and may follow-up with addition written questions.
When the Committee is satisfied they have enough information to make a recommendation, they vote to decide whether to send the vote to the floor with a recommendation that the full Senate vote for or against commissioning the nominee. Occasionally, if the Committee is split in its opinion, they may send the vote to the floor with no recommendation.
The full Senate may hold its own hearing, which generally lasts less than a week, where they may also question the candidate before voting. If the nominee receives a simple majority of 51 votes, he or she officially becomes a Supreme Court Justice.
If the Senate rejects the nominee, the President will pick another nominee or may nominate the same person for additional review. This authority comes from Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution, which states that the President has the power to nominate, and by and with the consent of the Senate, appoint Judges of the Supreme Court. Thus the President nominates but does not appoint Justices of of the Supreme Court. Actual appointment occurs only after Senate confirmation.
For more information, see Related Questions, below.
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Who elects US Supreme Court justices?
US Supreme Court justices are not elected, they are appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate.
Who is appointed by the president of the US for life?
Supreme Court Justices
How many male justices were appointed to the US Supreme Court before O'Day?
There were 101 MALE justices appointed to the US Supreme Court before Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed on July 7, 1981.
In what year were the most US Supreme Court justices appointed?
1789, when the first Supreme Court (of six members) was appointed by Washington.
How are US Supreme Court justices elected?
US Supreme Court justices are not elected. They are appointed by the President and approved (or rejected) by a simple majority vote of the Senate.
Who appoints and who approves US Supreme Court justices?
The President nominates US Supreme Court justices; they are appointed if approved by a simple majority vote of the Senate.
Which US President appointed the fewest Supreme Court justices?
Jimmy Carter and William Henry Harrison did not appoint any Supreme Court Justices.
Are US Supreme Court justices elected or appointed?
US Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President and approved by a simple majority vote of the Senate. This is intended to insulate the justices from political pressures and conflicts of interest that often accompany popular elections.
What are the 9 justices length of service?
US Supreme Court justices are appointed for life, or until they retire.
How are the US Supreme Court justices hired?
They are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate.
How many US Supreme Court justices were appointed by Republican Presidents?
six
What is a Term for office of the us supreme court justices?
No term. They are appointed for life.
Which US supreme court judges were recess appointments?
Supreme Court justices cannot be appointed by the recess appointment process.
Are US Supreme Court justices appointed or elected?
US Supreme Court justices are appointed.Article 2 Section 2 of the US Constitution provides that Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President with the Advice and Consent of the Senate.US Supreme Court Justices are nominated by the current President, presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee for investigation, then accepted or rejected by the US Senate.If a nominee receives a simple majority (51) of the votes, then he or she is commissioned as a Supreme Court Justice. This is a lifetime appointment, and is served until such time as the Justice retires, resigns, dies or is impeached by the House of Representative and tried by the Senate.
How long are US Supreme Court justices serve?
They are appointed for life or until they resign
How many US Supreme Court justices are Jewish?
As of May 2011, there are three Jewish justices on the US Supreme Court. President Clinton appointed Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993) and Stephen Breyer (1994); President Obama appointed Justice Elena Kagan (2010).
How many US Supreme Court justices were at George Washington's inauguration?
None. There where no Supreme Court justices when Washington became President in March 1789. The first justices were appointed in September 1789; the Supreme Court met for the first time in February 1790.
Are the US Supreme Court justices appointed by Congress?
No. They are appointed by the President, but must be approved by a simple majority vote of the Senate.
How are judges appionted in the US?
supreme court justices are appointed by the president' state judges are either elected or appointed by the governor
Are US Supreme Court justices appointed by the President and approved by the Senate?
Yes. Supreme Court justices are nominated by the President, but not appointed until the Senate votes to approve them. Approval only requires a simple majority of the Senators voting.
How many US Presidents have appointed Supreme Court justices?
Forty of the forty-four US Presidents appointed justices to the US Supreme Court. The only full-term President not to nominate a justice was Jimmy Carter.For more information, see Related Questions, below.
Does the electoral college select the US Supreme Court justices?
No. The electoral college casts the official ballots in a Presidential election. US Supreme Court justices are not elected; they are appointed by the President and must be approved by the Senate.
What do the US Supreme Court justices interpret?
US Supreme Court justices interpret the law and the Constitution.
What is the maximum number of years a US Supreme Court justice can serve in office?
Supreme Court justices are appointed to life terms, there is no term limitation.
What the highest court in the US is called?
The highest court is the Supreme Court. It is made up of 9 justices who are appointed for life. The Supreme Court also decides which cases it hears.
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