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All 112 past and present US Supreme Court justices have been lawyers, although not all of the earlier justices attended justices attended law school. The current court has had a varied background in the legal profession; none has spent significant time outside the field.
Significant Careers Prior to Joining the Court:
Justice Antonin Scalia
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
Law Professor, University of Chicago Law School
Attorney, private practice
Justice Anthony Kennedy
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Law Professor, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
Attorney, private practice
Justice Clarence Thomas
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
Chairman, Equal Opportunity Employment Commission
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
Chief Litigator, ACLU Women's Rights
Law Professor, Rutgers School of Law
Justice Stephen Breyer
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Law Professor, Harvard Law School and Kennedy School of Government
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
Attorney, private practice
Adjunct Law Professor, Georgetown School of Law
Assistant White House Counsel (Reagan)
Justice Samuel Alito
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
US Attorney for the District of New Jersey
Assistant to the US Solicitor General
Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Judge, US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Attorney, Community Activist, etc.
Justice Elena Kagan
US Solicitor General
Dean, Harvard Law School
Law Professor, University of Chicago Law School
What else can I help you with?
Has anyone without prior legal experience been appointed to the US Supreme Court?
No. Although the Constitution doesn't require US Supreme Court justices to have legal experience, all 111 past and present justices have been lawyers. In recent years, most have also served as judges before joining the Court.
How many male justices appointed before Sandra day o'connor?
There were 75 justices appointed to the Supreme court before O'Conner
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.
What influences supreme court decisions?
The justices of the US Supreme Court vote on each case that is brought before them. The decision of the court is whatever a majority of the justices agree on. Each justice has an equal say in the decision.
Where can I see a photo of the US Supreme Court justices?
The Supreme Court Historical Society hosts a photograph of the justices as a group. The current photograph was taken before Justice Kagan joined the Court, and before Justice Stevens retired; however, the Historical Society promises an update soon. To see a picture of the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, you can access the Supreme Court Historical Society via Related Links, below.
Do you have to be some type of judge before becoming a US Supreme Court justice?
No. There are no constitutional or statutory requirements that a US Supreme Court justice be a judge before being appointed to the Court. Over the past 40 years, however, judicial experience had become an informal requirement. Elena Kagan, who was confirmed to the Court on Saturday, August 7, 2010, is the first justice since William Rehnquist with no prior service on the bench. A total of 41 justices (10 Chief Justices and 31 Associate Justices) of the 112 seated (36.6%) had no judicial experience before joining the US Supreme Court. For more information, see Related Questions, below.
What do justices of the US Supreme Court do before they take their seats at the bench?
The nine justices shake hands with each of the other nine justices to remind themselves that their differences on the bench should not interfere with the cohesiveness of the Court.
What is on trial in a Supreme Court case?
In a case before the Supreme Court, the law itself is on trial and the justices determine whether the law is guilty of violating the Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land.
Are justices to the supreme court appointed by the president?
Yes, but before they can take a seat on the bench, they have to first be confirmed by the Senate.
What type of vote is required for a majority decision in the US Supreme Court?
For a case to be heard before the U. S. Supreme Court there must be a quorum. This requires at least six Justices to be present. There is a total of nine Justices on the Supreme Court but illness or recusals could cause less than 9 on a case. For a decision to be rendered it requires a majority of the Justices hearing the case. If all Justices are present the majority would require 5 or more to met this requirement.
How many justices will have to agree before the Court will accept a case?
The US Supreme Court determines whether to hear a case according to the Rule of Four. If at least four of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court agree, they will grant certiorari and hear the case.
How long have the supreme court justices been wearing black robes?
From day one. Judges were wearing black robes long before there was a US Supreme Court.
