Long-term influence
Because justices can serve for decades, a single appointment can shape constitutional law long after the president who nominated them has left office.
In plain English
When judges keep their seats for life.
Supreme Court justices keep their jobs for as long as they want, with no set end date, unless they step down or are removed.
Simple example
Justice Stephen Breyer served on the Supreme Court for nearly 28 years before voluntarily retiring in 2022; no rule required him to leave at a particular age or after a set number of years.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Stakes of vacancies
With no fixed end dates, the timing of deaths and retirements determines when seats open, making each vacancy a high-stakes political event.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Constitutional basis
Article III says federal judges 'shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour,' language courts and Congress have long read to mean service for life absent misconduct.
Removal process
A justice can be removed only through impeachment by the House and conviction by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, a bar that has never been cleared for a Supreme Court justice.
Related guide
Should Supreme Court justices have term limits?
A look at the constitutional rules, historical trends and reform proposals behind a debate over how long justices should serve.
Read the guide → Related issue brief
Should Supreme Court justices have term limits?
A long-running debate over judicial tenure has gained new prominence amid proposals to cap justices' service at 18 years.
Read the brief →You’ve learned the term. Now vote.
Should Supreme Court justices have term limits?
Live results — 152 voters
Anonymous · one vote per person