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Politics : View from the Center and Left

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To: Bread Upon The Water who wrote (136602)4/14/2010 1:18:07 PM
From: Wharf Rat  Read Replies (2) of 542946
 
No, you couldn't. But I could still be a justice if I was willing to move to DC, and was about 20 years younger; don't think Obama wants to appoint a senior.
It just takes wisdom.

What is the age requirement for US Supreme Court justices?

Answer

Under the Constitution, there are no formal age, residency, citizenship, or education requirements for a Supreme Court Justice.

In theory, the President could appoint a 5-year-old (Kenyan Moslem, of course) child to the Supreme Court if he wanted (though getting him confirmed by the Senate would be difficult).

In practice, Presidents almost always appoint highly experienced lawyers and judges to serve on the Supreme Court. As a result, appointees are usually in their 40s or 50s at the time of their appointment.

When deciding whom to appoint, Presidents often have to strike a balance - they want someone who is very educated, with a great deal of legal experience, and gaining such experience takes time. However, they also want their appointees to be as young as possible, since Supreme Court justices can serve for life, the President usually wants someone who will likely be able to serve for a few decades, allowing them to make a lasting impact on the court's jurisprudence.

Currently, there is no age limit for a position in the Supreme Court. It just requires Senate confirmation (since it is a Presidential appointment).

The youngest Justice to the Supreme Court was Joseph Sotry at 32 years old, but that was way back in 1812.

Many people believe that the lack of an age limit or a term limit helps the SCOTUS remain an impartial body. It prevents one President from having the power to appoint a large number of justices that will, more than likely, side with the serving President's views.

wiki.answers.com
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