Supreme Court justices in the United States serve lifetime appointments, meaning they can remain on the Court until they die, retire, resign, or are impeached and removed from office. This life tenure is granted by the Constitution under the condition of serving during "good Behaviour" and is intended to ensure judicial independence from political pressures
. The average length of service for a Supreme Court justice is about 16 years, although this varies widely. Some justices have served for decades; for example, the longest-serving justice, William O. Douglas, served for over 36 years, and the longest-serving Chief Justice, John Marshall, served for over 34 years
. There is no mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices, and many serve well into their 70s, 80s, or even 90s. Historically, the average age at which justices leave the Court has risen, with one study showing an average retirement or death age of about 78.7 years between 1971 and 2006
. There have been recent proposals to amend the Constitution to impose term limits on Supreme Court justices, such as an 18-year term limit proposed by Senators Joe Manchin and Peter Welch in 2024. This would involve a staggered appointment system to maintain continuity while addressing concerns about lifetime tenure fueling political polarization and eroding public trust
. In summary:
- Supreme Court justices serve for life unless they retire, resign, die, or are impeached.
- Average tenure is about 16 years but can be much longer.
- No mandatory retirement age exists; justices often serve into advanced age.
- Proposed reforms include 18-year term limits, but these are not yet enacted.
This lifetime service model is unique compared to many other countries and remains a subject of ongoing debate regarding its impact on the judiciary and public confidence
