The judges of the U.S. Supreme Court are appointed through a two-step process involving both the Executive and Legislative branches of the federal government. First, the President of the United States nominates a candidate for a Supreme Court vacancy. Then, the nominee must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate through a majority vote. This procedure is established by the "Appointments Clause" in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which states that the President "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... Judges of the supreme Court"
. There are no specific constitutional qualifications such as age, citizenship, or legal experience required to be nominated, though all justices historically have had legal training. The Senate Judiciary Committee typically conducts hearings to evaluate the nominee before the full Senate votes on confirmation
. In summary:
- The President nominates Supreme Court justices.
- The Senate confirms the nominees by majority vote.
- Upon confirmation, the President formally appoints the justice to the Court
