US Supreme Court Fast Facts

Here is a look at the Supreme Court of the United States.

The US Supreme Court was created in accordance with Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States and by the authority of the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789.

Nine justices comprise the US Supreme Court, one chief justice and eight associate justices. The number of justices is fixed by Congress by the authority of judicial code, (28 U.S.C. 1), enacted on June 25, 1948.

The President of the United States nominates candidates for the Supreme Court. They must be approved by the US Senate.

Once approved, all justices serve for life. Congress can remove a justice through impeachment for corrupt behavior or other abuses of office, but this has never happened.

Chief justices are sworn in by the outgoing chief justices. Associate justices are sworn in by the current chief justice or one of the other associate justices.

Each justice oversees at least one of the 12 Federal Judicial Circuit Courts.