Although US Supreme Court Justices are entitled to serve for life, and many do remain on the court until death, there are a variety of reasons a Justice may choose to leave, such as poor health, a desire to spend more time with family, frustration with the government or the political leaning of the Court, and so on.
A Justice may also leave if he or she is impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate for "Treason, Bribery, or otherHigh Crimes and Misdemeanors." (US Constitution, Article II, Section 4). Contrary to popular belief, a Supreme Court Justice cannot be impeached simply because an individual or group disapproves of his or her political beliefs.
The House of Representatives impeached Samuel Chase in 1804 because they didn't like his Federalist leanings, but the Senate acquitted him in 1805, establishing the right of the judiciary to independent opinion.
Chief Justice John Marshall presided over the Supreme Court from 1801 until his death in 1835.
Chief Justice Jay resigned because he was elected Governor of his home state, New York, in 1795. Jay disliked serving on the Court because he believed the position lacked prestige.
US Supreme Court justices are appointed for life and only leave office in one of the following four ways:ResignationRetirementDeathImpeachment and conviction
Supreme Court justices can leave office by dying, resigning or retiring. They can also be impeached. There is no single way they can "resign"
If a senator were to leave the senate in order to serve on the Supreme Court, the governnor of his or her state would appoint a new senator to complete the remaining portion of the senatorial term of office.
The Constitution does not specify a number of different things about the Supreme Court including:Qualifications Necessary to become a Supreme Court Judge or any Federal JudgeNumber of justices on the CourtDistinction between Chief Justice and Associate JusticesLength of Service or Term (it is implied to be a life term, but never made explicit)How to leave the Supreme CourtResponsibility for Circuit CourtsWhen the Court's Term begins and endsThe Proper Relationship with Lower Courts, i.e. that cases in the District Courts must go through the US Courts of Appeals / Circuit Courts before going to the Supreme CourtRequirement for a Writ of Certiorari (for a case to be heard)Judicial Reivew
Elena KaganPresident Obama nominated US Solicitor General Elena Kagan on May 9, 2010, to succeed Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired from the Court on June 29. The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended Kagan's by a vote of 13-6; she was confirmed by a full Senate vote of 63-37 on Thursday, August 5, 2010. She took the Oaths of Office on August 7, 2010.Kagan, who is the fourth woman to join the US Supreme Court, also increased the female census on the bench to three for the first time in history.
they serve the supreme court for a life long termFederal judges, including Supreme Court justices, are appointed for life. They leave office by resigning/retiring, impeachment, or death.For Life, but they can be impeached or retire at their own request.
US Supreme Court justices are appointed for life and only leave office in one of the following four ways:ResignationRetirementDeathImpeachment and conviction
Charles Evans Hughes is one of only two justices to leave the Court and later return (the other is John Rutledge). Hughes served as an Associate Justice from 1910-1916, then left to run for President, lost, and was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, where he presided from 1930-1941.
There are no terms for US Supreme Court Justices. A Chief Justice may remain in that office until he or she decides to leave or is unable to do the job any more (as in very sick or dead). If a Chief Justice steps down, the Senior Associate Justice serves in his (or her) capacity on an interim basis until the Chief Justice is able to return to work or the President and Senate choose a successor. This has happened a few times in the history of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court consists of one Chief Justice (judge) and eight associate justices. They are nominated by the president when vacancies occur, and the president's nominees are confirmed by the Senate. If a nominee is denied confirmation, the president must submit another until the position is filled. Once confirmed, Supreme Court justices have their positions for life, or until they resign or are removed from office through a process of impeachment.
All cases that are appealed from the Court of Appeal go to the Supreme Court. First you must seek leave (permission) of the court to make your appeal, however.
Supreme Court justices can leave office by dying, resigning or retiring. They can also be impeached. There is no single way they can "resign"
If a senator were to leave the senate in order to serve on the Supreme Court, the governnor of his or her state would appoint a new senator to complete the remaining portion of the senatorial term of office.
Congress set the current number of Supreme Court justices at nine (one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices) in the Judiciary Act of 1869, and has the authority to pass legislation making future changes.
President Obama probably won't have an opportunity to change the balance of the Supreme Court, because the justices most likely to leave office during Obama's tenure are both considered liberal, and would be replaced by other liberals. The only way Obama can change the tenor of the Court is by replacing a conservative justice with a liberal, a vacancy unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future.
The Constitution does not specify a number of different things about the Supreme Court including:Qualifications Necessary to become a Supreme Court Judge or any Federal JudgeNumber of justices on the CourtDistinction between Chief Justice and Associate JusticesLength of Service or Term (it is implied to be a life term, but never made explicit)How to leave the Supreme CourtResponsibility for Circuit CourtsWhen the Court's Term begins and endsThe Proper Relationship with Lower Courts, i.e. that cases in the District Courts must go through the US Courts of Appeals / Circuit Courts before going to the Supreme CourtRequirement for a Writ of Certiorari (for a case to be heard)Judicial Reivew
Article III of the Constitution leaves it to Congress to fix the number of justices.