How do you become a justice on the Supreme Court?

Answer 1

Step One

Go to law school. In theory, anyone can be a Supreme Court Justice. However, in practice, the distinction has been reserved for lawyers. Doing well in law school, passing the bar exam and developing a law practice will therefore help you on your way to becoming a Supreme Court Justice.

Step Two

Understand the role of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. Its function is to review decisions of the lower courts that involve interpretation of the Constitution, federal law, or treaties.

Step Three

Become a federal judge. Almost all Supreme Court nominees have been judges on the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. This is a group of regional courts that governs appeals of district court decisions. Federal Appeals Courts work on cases that can later be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Step Four

Be political. Supreme Court justices are nominated by sitting presidents, usually because they are thought to be representative of a certain political party's values. Participating in politics will help in becoming a Supreme Court Justice.

Step Five

Ace the confirmation hearings. Once the president nominates someone, the Senate holds hearings. The purpose of the hearings is for the senators to interview the nominee regarding his record as a judge and lawyer, and inquire as to where she stands on key issues.

Answer

The Constitution does not list or specify any formal qualifications to become a justice on the Supreme Court, just like it does not specify the number of justices that make up the Supreme Court. Our Founding Fathers left those decisions to Congress. However, from the beginning of the Court,, justices have all been lawyers and many have had legal and political careers prior to serving on the court. An "informal" qualification is that the President consult with the Senators from the state that a prospective justice is from, before making his/her nomination official. The Senate must confirm appointments to the Court so they usually take into account the legal expertise of the person nominated by the President.

1. go to a top undergraduate school and get a 3.8.
2. get at least a 170 on the LSAT
3. go to a top, preferably Ivy League/uchicago/stanford law school.
4. join the law review.
5. graduate in the top of your class.
6. become a law clerk after graduation, preferably at the supreme court.
7. join the solicitor general's office, US attorney's office, or some other DoJ office in the federal government.
8. write extensively on law reviews, publishing articles.
9. become a law professor somewhere, specialize in constitutional law.
10. become really chummy with the president. really, really chummy.
11. get appointed to the federal bench.
12. get senate approval for your appointment.
13. wait for a supreme court justice to retire or die.
14. beg and plead with the president to fill that opening.
15. during your appointment hearings, absolutely refuse to talk about how you would rule on any given issue. emphasize the rule of law, etc.

Answer 2

The President has to nominate you for the position, and the Senate must confirm the nomination.

Answer 3

1. Nomination by the President
2. Confirmation by the Senate
3. Oaths of Office, administered by the Chief Justice

Answer 4

I believe the 3 steps are:

• named/nominated
• vetted by Congress
• Approved (or rejected)