29f

29f- assess the selection process, the customary qualifications, and term of office for federal judges and Supreme Court Justices

The Constitution does not specify formal qualifications for membership on the Supreme Court. From the beginning, though, justices have all been lawyers, and most pursued legal and political careers before serving on the Court. Many justices served as members of Congress, governors, or members of the Cabinet.

One president, William Howard Taft, was later appointed Chief Justice One president, William Howard Taft, was later appointed Chief Justice. Some justices came to the Court from private law practice, and others were appointed from positions as law professors. Many justices appointed in the second half of the 20th century had experience in the United States courts of appeal and other lower courts

Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President and must be confirmed by a majority vote in the Senate. The president usually chooses the nominees carefully to minimize the possibility that the justice will veer far from the administration’s own agenda after he or she is confirmed.

Many 20th-century presidents have also tried to balance the Court’s religious, racial, ethnic, and gender makeup. Only Protestants served on the Court until 1836, when the Senate confirmed President Andrew Jackson’s nomination of Roger B. Taney, a Catholic. Since then there has almost always been a Catholic on the Court.

Louis D. Brandeis was the first Jewish justice in 1916 Louis D. Brandeis was the first Jewish justice in 1916. Civil rights lawyer Thurgood D. Marshall became the first African American justice in 1967. President Ronald Reagan appointed the first woman, Sandra Day O’Connor, in 1981. The first Italian American, Antonin Scalia, came to the Court in 1986.

Term of Office: The Constitution states that Supreme Court justices “shall hold their Offices during good Behavior” The term "good behavior" is interpreted to mean that the Justices may serve for the remainder of their lives, however, they may resign or retire voluntarily

Federal judges can also hold. office from the day. he/she becomes Federal judges can also hold office from the day he/she becomes confirmed until the day he/she dies This refers to the Good Behavior Clause, it applies to Supreme Court Justices as well as Federal Judges