List of United States Supreme Court Justices by time in office

This is a list of U.S. Supreme Court Justices by time in office, counted in days. The period of service for Justices ranges from William O. Douglas's 13,358 days (36 years) on the Court to the 163–day tenure of Thomas Johnson. A nominee who was confirmed by the United States Senate but declined to serve, such as Robert H. Harrison, or who died before taking his seat, such as Edwin M. Stanton, would not be considered to have served as a Justice.[1][2] The Term Start date is the day the Justice took the oath of office,[1] with the Term End date being the date of the Justice's death, resignation, or retirement.[1] A highlighted row indicates that the Justice is currently serving on the Court.[3]

Justices

Rank by
length
of term		 Justice Term
in
days		 Term Start[1] Term End[1]
1 Douglas, William O.William O. Douglas &1000000000001335800000013,358 01939-04-17April 17, 1939 01975-11-12November 12, 1975
2 Field, Stephen JohnsonStephen Johnson Field &1000000000001261400000012,614 01863-05-20May 20, 1863 01897-12-01December 1, 1897
3 Stevens, John PaulJohn Paul Stevens &1000000000001261100000012,611 01975-12-19December 19, 1975 02010-06-29June 29, 2010
4 Marshall, JohnJohn Marshall* &1000000000001257000000012,570 01801-02-04February 4, 1801 01835-07-06July 6, 1835
5 Black, HugoHugo Black &1000000000001244700000012,447 01937-08-19August 19, 1937 01971-09-17September 17, 1971
6 Harlan, John MarshallJohn Marshall Harlan &1000000000001236000000012,360 01877-12-10December 10, 1877 01911-10-14October 14, 1911
7 Brennan, William J.William J. Brennan &1000000000001233000000012,330 01956-10-16October 16, 1956 01990-07-20July 20, 1990
8 Rehnquist, WilliamWilliam Rehnquist* &1000000000001229300000012,293+ 01972-01-07January 7, 1972 02005-09-03September 3, 2005+
9 Story, JosephJoseph Story &1000000000001227300000012,273 01812-02-03February 3, 1812 01845-09-10September 10, 1845
10 Wayne, James MooreJames Moore Wayne &1000000000001186000000011,860 01835-01-14January 14, 1835 01867-07-05July 5, 1867
11 McLean, JohnJohn McLean &1000000000001140600000011,406 01830-01-11January 11, 1830 01861-04-04April 4, 1861
12 White, ByronByron White &1000000000001139600000011,396 01962-04-16April 16, 1962 01993-06-28June 28, 1993
13 Washington, BushrodBushrod Washington &1000000000001125200000011,252 01799-02-04February 4, 1799 01829-11-26November 26, 1829
14 Johnson, WilliamWilliam Johnson &1000000000001104600000011,046 01804-05-07May 7, 1804 01834-08-04August 4, 1834
15 Holmes, Oliver WendellOliver Wendell Holmes &1000000000001062700000010,627 01902-12-08December 8, 1902 01932-01-12January 12, 1932
16 Taney, Roger B.Roger B. Taney* &1000000000001042500000010,425 01836-03-28March 28, 1836 01864-10-12October 12, 1864
17 Miller, Samuel FreemanSamuel Freeman Miller &1000000000001031100000010,311 01862-07-21July 21, 1862 01890-10-13October 13, 1890
18 Catron, JohnJohn Catron &1000000000001025600000010,256 01837-05-01May 1, 1837 01865-05-30May 30, 1865
19 Nelson, SamuelSamuel Nelson &1000000000001013600000010,136 01845-02-27February 27, 1845 01872-11-28November 28, 1872
20 White, Edward DouglassEdward Douglass White* &100000000000099290000009,929+ 01894-03-12March 12, 1894 01921-05-19May 19, 1921+
21 McKenna, JosephJoseph McKenna &100000000000098400000009,840 01898-01-26January 26, 1898 01925-01-05January 5, 1925
22 Van Devanter, WillisWillis Van Devanter &100000000000096470000009,647 01911-01-03January 3, 1911 01937-06-02June 2, 1937
23 McReynolds, James ClarkJames Clark McReynolds &100000000000096080000009,608 01914-10-12October 12, 1914 01941-01-31January 31, 1941
24 Scalia, AntoninAntonin Scalia &100000000000092830000009,283 01986-09-26September 26, 1986 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
25 O'Connor, Sandra DaySandra Day O'Connor &100000000000088940000008,894 01981-09-25September 25, 1981 02006-01-31January 31, 2006
26 Blackmun, HarryHarry Blackmun &100000000000088210000008,821 01970-06-09June 9, 1970 01994-08-03August 3, 1994
27 Marshall, ThurgoodThurgood Marshall &100000000000087650000008,765 01967-10-02October 2, 1967 01991-10-01October 1, 1991
28 Kennedy, AnthonyAnthony Kennedy &100000000000087730000008,773 01988-02-18February 18, 1988 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
29 Frankfurter, FelixFelix Frankfurter &100000000000086110000008,611 01939-01-30January 30, 1939 01962-08-28August 28, 1962
30 Clifford, NathanNathan Clifford &100000000000085860000008,586 01858-01-21January 21, 1858 01881-07-25July 25, 1881
31 Grier, Robert CooperRobert Cooper Grier &100000000000085750000008,575 01846-08-10August 10, 1846 01870-01-31January 31, 1870
32 Duvall, GabrielGabriel Duvall &100000000000084530000008,453 01811-11-23November 23, 1811 01835-01-14January 14, 1835
33 Stewart, PotterPotter Stewart &100000000000082980000008,298 01958-10-14October 14, 1958 01981-07-03July 3, 1981
34 Brandeis, LouisLouis Brandeis &100000000000082880000008,288 01916-06-05June 5, 1916 01939-02-13February 13, 1939
35 Bradley, Joseph PhiloJoseph Philo Bradley &100000000000079750000007,975 01870-03-23March 23, 1870 01892-01-22January 22, 1892
36 Fuller, MelvilleMelville Fuller* &100000000000079380000007,938 01888-10-08October 8, 1888 01910-07-04July 4, 1910
37 Stone, Harlan FiskeHarlan Fiske Stone* &100000000000077210000007,721+ 01925-03-02March 2, 1925 01946-04-22April 22, 1946+
38 Gray, HoraceHorace Gray &100000000000075530000007,553 01882-01-09January 9, 1882 01902-09-15September 15, 1902
39 Cushing, WilliamWilliam Cushing &100000000000075270000007,527 01790-02-02February 2, 1790 01810-09-13September 13, 1810
40 Thompson, SmithSmith Thompson &100000000000074130000007,413 01823-09-01September 1, 1823 01843-12-18December 18, 1843
41 Brewer, David JosiahDavid Josiah Brewer &100000000000073850000007,385 01890-01-06January 6, 1890 01910-03-28March 28, 1910
42 Thomas, ClarenceClarence Thomas &100000000000074300000007,430 01991-10-23October 23, 1991 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
43 Day, William RufusWilliam Rufus Day &100000000000071960000007,196 01903-03-02March 2, 1903 01922-11-13November 13, 1922
44 Reed, Stanley FormanStanley Forman Reed &100000000000069650000006,965 01938-01-31January 31, 1938 01957-02-25February 25, 1957
45 Swayne, Noah HaynesNoah Haynes Swayne &100000000000069370000006,937 01862-01-27January 27, 1862 01881-01-24January 24, 1881
46 Todd, ThomasThomas Todd &100000000000068540000006,854 01807-05-04May 4, 1807 01826-02-07February 7, 1826
47 Souter, DavidDavid Souter &100000000000068380000006,838 01990-10-09October 9, 1990 02009-06-29June 29, 2009
48 Ginsburg, Ruth BaderRuth Bader Ginsburg &100000000000067730000006,773 01993-08-10August 10, 1993 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
49 Daniel, Peter VivianPeter Vivian Daniel &100000000000067160000006,716 01842-01-10January 10, 1842 01860-05-31May 31, 1860
50 Clark, Tom C.Tom C. Clark &100000000000065010000006,501 01949-08-24August 24, 1949 01967-06-12June 12, 1967
51 Breyer, StephenStephen Breyer &100000000000064150000006,415 01994-08-03August 3, 1994 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
52 Burger, Warren E.Warren E. Burger* &100000000000063040000006,304 01969-06-23June 23, 1969 01986-09-26September 26, 1986
53 Hughes, Charles EvansCharles Evans Hughes* &100000000000062140000006,214+ 01910-10-10October 10, 1910
February 24, 1930*		 01916-06-10June 10, 1916
June 30, 1941*
54 Butler, PiercePierce Butler &100000000000061620000006,162 01923-01-02January 2, 1923 01939-11-16November 16, 1939
55 Harlan II, John MarshallJohn Marshall Harlan II &100000000000060230000006,023 01955-03-28March 28, 1955 01971-09-23September 23, 1971
56 Livingston, Henry BrockholstHenry Brockholst Livingston &100000000000059010000005,901 01807-01-20January 20, 1807 01823-03-18March 18, 1823
57 Warren, EarlEarl Warren* &100000000000057400000005,740 01953-10-05October 5, 1953 01969-06-23June 23, 1969
58 Powell, Lewis FranklinLewis Franklin Powell &100000000000056490000005,649 01972-01-07January 7, 1972 01987-06-26June 26, 1987
59 Brown, Henry BillingsHenry Billings Brown &100000000000056210000005,621 01891-01-05January 5, 1891 01906-05-28May 28, 1906
60 Chase, SamuelSamuel Chase &100000000000056130000005,613 01796-02-04February 4, 1796 01811-06-19June 19, 1811
61 Sutherland, GeorgeGeorge Sutherland &100000000000055860000005,586 01922-10-02October 2, 1922 01938-01-17January 17, 1938
62 Roberts, Owen JosephusOwen Josephus Roberts &100000000000055380000005,538 01930-06-02June 2, 1930 01945-07-31July 31, 1945
63 McKinley, JohnJohn McKinley &100000000000053050000005,305 01838-01-09January 9, 1838 01852-07-19July 19, 1852
64 Baldwin, HenryHenry Baldwin &100000000000052070000005,207 01830-01-18January 18, 1830 01844-04-21April 21, 1844
65 Davis, DavidDavid Davis &100000000000051980000005,198 01862-12-10December 10, 1862 01877-03-04March 4, 1877
66 Waite, Morrison R.Morrison R. Waite* &100000000000051330000005,133 01874-03-04March 4, 1874 01888-03-23March 23, 1888
67 Peckham, Rufus WheelerRufus Wheeler Peckham &100000000000050390000005,039 01896-01-06January 6, 1896 01909-10-24October 24, 1909
68 Paterson, WilliamWilliam Paterson &100000000000049290000004,929 01793-03-11March 11, 1793 01806-09-09September 9, 1806
69 Jackson, Robert H.Robert H. Jackson &100000000000048380000004,838 01941-07-11July 11, 1941 01954-10-09October 9, 1954
70 Burton, Harold HitzHarold Hitz Burton &100000000000047600000004,760 01945-10-01October 1, 1945 01958-10-13October 13, 1958
71 Blatchford, SamuelSamuel Blatchford &100000000000041130000004,113 01882-04-03April 3, 1882 01893-07-07July 7, 1893
72 Pitney, MahlonMahlon Pitney &100000000000039400000003,940 01912-03-18March 18, 1912 01922-12-31December 31, 1922
73 Strong, WilliamWilliam Strong &100000000000039280000003,928 01870-03-14March 14, 1870 01880-12-14December 14, 1880
74 Shiras, Jr., GeorgeGeorge Shiras, Jr. &100000000000037870000003,787 01892-10-10October 10, 1892 01903-02-23February 23, 1903
75 Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy &100000000000034520000003,452 01940-02-05February 5, 1940 01949-07-19July 19, 1949
76 Iredell, JamesJames Iredell &100000000000034480000003,448 01790-05-12May 12, 1790 01799-10-20October 20, 1799
77 Hunt, WardWard Hunt &100000000000033050000003,305 01873-01-09January 9, 1873 01882-01-27January 27, 1882
78 Wilson, JamesJames Wilson &100000000000032420000003,242 01789-10-05October 5, 1789 01798-08-21August 21, 1798
79 Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft* &100000000000031290000003,129 01921-07-11July 11, 1921 01930-02-03February 3, 1930
80 Chase, Salmon P.Salmon P. Chase* &100000000000030650000003,065 01864-12-15December 15, 1864 01873-05-07May 7, 1873
81 Campbell, John ArchibaldJohn Archibald Campbell &100000000000029410000002,941 01853-04-11April 11, 1853 01861-04-30April 30, 1861
82 Matthews, Thomas StanleyThomas Stanley Matthews &100000000000028660000002,866 01881-05-17May 17, 1881 01889-03-22March 22, 1889
83 Vinson, Fred M.Fred M. Vinson* &100000000000026330000002,633 01946-06-24June 24, 1946 01953-09-08September 8, 1953
84 Sanford, Edward TerryEdward Terry Sanford &100000000000025740000002,574 01923-02-19February 19, 1923 01930-03-08March 8, 1930
85 Minton, ShermanSherman Minton &100000000000025600000002,560 01949-10-12October 12, 1949 01956-10-15October 15, 1956
86 Rutledge, Wiley BlountWiley Blount Rutledge &100000000000023990000002,399 01943-02-15February 15, 1943 01949-09-10September 10, 1949
87 Woods, William BurnhamWilliam Burnham Woods &100000000000023200000002,320 01881-01-05January 5, 1881 01887-05-14May 14, 1887
88 Cardozo, Benjamin N.Benjamin N. Cardozo &100000000000023080000002,308 01932-03-14March 14, 1932 01938-07-09July 9, 1938
89 Roberts, John G.John G. Roberts* &100000000000023400000002,340 02005-09-29September 29, 2005 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
90 Curtis, Benjamin RobbinsBenjamin Robbins Curtis &100000000000021820000002,182 01851-10-10October 10, 1851 01857-09-30September 30, 1857
91 Woodbury, LeviLevi Woodbury &100000000000021720000002,172 01845-09-23September 23, 1845 01851-09-04September 4, 1851
92 Clarke, John HessinJohn Hessin Clarke &100000000000021700000002,170 01916-10-09October 9, 1916 01922-09-18September 18, 1922
93 Alito, SamuelSamuel Alito &100000000000022160000002,216 02006-01-31January 31, 2006 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
94 Blair, JohnJohn Blair &100000000000020910000002,091 01790-02-02February 2, 1790 01795-10-25October 25, 1795
95 Jay, JohnJohn Jay* &100000000000020790000002,079 01789-10-19October 19, 1789 01795-06-29June 29, 1795
96 (tie) Lamar, Lucius Quintus CincinnatusLucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar &100000000000018320000001,832 01888-01-18January 18, 1888 01893-01-23January 23, 1893
96 (tie) Whittaker, Charles EvansCharles Evans Whittaker &100000000000018320000001,832 01957-03-25March 25, 1957 01962-03-31March 31, 1962
98 Lamar, Joseph RuckerJoseph Rucker Lamar &100000000000018250000001,825 01911-01-03January 3, 1911 01916-01-02January 2, 1916
99 Barbour, Philip PendletonPhilip Pendleton Barbour &100000000000017500000001,750 01836-05-12May 12, 1836 01841-02-25February 25, 1841
100 Ellsworth, OliverOliver Ellsworth* &100000000000017420000001,742 01796-03-08March 8, 1796 01800-12-15December 15, 1800
101 Lurton, Horace HarmonHorace Harmon Lurton &100000000000016510000001,651 01910-01-03January 3, 1910 01914-07-12July 12, 1914
102 Moody, William HenryWilliam Henry Moody &100000000000014340000001,434 01906-12-17December 17, 1906 01910-11-20November 20, 1910
103 Moore, AlfredAlfred Moore &100000000000013750000001,375 01800-04-21April 21, 1800 01804-01-26January 26, 1804
104 Fortas, AbeAbe Fortas &100000000000013180000001,318 01965-10-04October 4, 1965 01969-05-14May 14, 1969
105 Goldberg, Arthur JosephArthur Joseph Goldberg &100000000000010280000001,028 01962-10-01October 1, 1962 01965-07-25July 25, 1965
106 Jackson, Howell EdmundsHowell Edmunds Jackson &10000000000000887000000887 01893-03-04March 4, 1893 01895-08-08August 8, 1895
107 Sotomayor, SoniaSonia Sotomayor &10000000000000931000000931 02009-08-08August 8, 2009 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
108 Trimble, RobertRobert Trimble &10000000000000801000000801 01826-06-16June 16, 1826 01828-08-25August 25, 1828
109 Rutledge, JohnJohn Rutledge* &10000000000000563000000563+ 01790-02-15February 15, 1790
July 1, 1795*		 01795-12-28December 28, 1795March 5, 1791
December 28, 1795*
110 Kagan, ElenaElena Kagan &10000000000000567000000567 02010-08-07August 7, 2010 02012-02-16February 16, 2012Incumbent
111 Byrnes, James F.James F. Byrnes &10000000000000452000000452 01941-07-08July 8, 1941 01942-10-03October 3, 1942
112 Johnson, ThomasThomas Johnson &10000000000000163000000163 01792-08-05August 5, 1792 01793-01-15January 15, 1793

*Chief Justice
+Term as Associate Justice and Chief Justice combined

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Members of the Supreme Court from the Supreme Court of the United States" (PDF). Official website of the Supreme Court of the United States. http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members.pdf. Retrieved September 19, 2009. 
  2. ^ Stanton took the oath of office on his death bed, but according to the Supreme Court Historical Society, he never took "the necessary steps toward becoming a Member of the Court."
  3. ^ "Judges of the United States Courts". Official website of the Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070929135637/http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetCourt?cid=0&order=c. Retrieved December 27, 2007. 
The Court
Current
membership
Retired Associate Justices
All members
Court functionaries