The nine members of the current U.S. Supreme Court range in age from 54 to 77, with an average around 65 as of early 2026. Justice Clarence Thomas is the oldest at 77; Justice Amy Coney Barrett is the youngest at 54. The ages of the Supreme Court justices span a full twenty-three years, and because the Constitution sets no mandatory retirement age, that spread can persist for decades.
How Old Each Justice Is Right Now
Ages below are calculated from the birth dates in the Court’s official biographies, as of early 2026.1Supreme Court of the United States. Biographies of Current Members of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Clarence Thomas, born 1948 — 77
- Samuel Alito, born 1950 — 75
- Sonia Sotomayor, born 1954 — 71
- John Roberts, Chief Justice, born 1955 — 71
- Elena Kagan, born 1960 — 65
- Brett Kavanaugh, born 1965 — 61
- Neil Gorsuch, born 1967 — 58
- Ketanji Brown Jackson, born 1970 — 55
- Amy Coney Barrett, born 1972 — 54
Thomas and Alito anchor the senior end of the bench. Barrett and Jackson, both in their fifties, are the two youngest and were also the two most recent additions. Roberts and Sotomayor were born in adjacent years and are effectively the same age.
How Old Each Justice Was at Appointment
Every current justice was somewhere between 43 and 55 when the Senate confirmed them. Presidents from both parties have consistently picked nominees in their late forties or early fifties, an age range that offers a substantial professional record without giving up decades of potential service.
- Clarence Thomas — 43 at confirmation in 1991
- Amy Coney Barrett — 48 in 2020
- Neil Gorsuch — 49 in 2017
- John Roberts — 50 in 2005
- Elena Kagan — 50 in 2010
- Ketanji Brown Jackson — 51 in 2022
- Brett Kavanaugh — 53 in 2018
- Sonia Sotomayor — 55 in 2009
- Samuel Alito — 55 in 2006
Thomas was the youngest of the group when he took his seat and is now the oldest sitting on it, a reminder of how long a Supreme Court career can run.1Supreme Court of the United States. Biographies of Current Members of the Supreme Court of the United States
Youngest and Oldest Justices in Court History
The youngest person ever appointed to the Supreme Court was Joseph Story, nominated by President James Madison in 1811 at age 32. Story served on the Court from 1812 to 1845.2Supreme Court Historical Society. Life Story: Joseph Story
The oldest to serve was Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who was 90 when he retired in 1932 after roughly three decades on the bench. The longest tenure on record belongs to Justice William O. Douglas, who served 36 years, 7 months, and 8 days between 1939 and 1975.3Supreme Court of the United States. Frequently Asked Questions on Justices
Across the Court’s history from 1789 through 2006, the mean age of sitting justices was about 63, but that average has trended upward over time as life expectancy has grown and the physical demands of the job have eased.4PubMed Central. Retirement and Death in Office of U.S. Supreme Court Justices Today’s bench, averaging around 65, sits above that long-run mean.
Why Justices Can Stay for So Long
Article III of the Constitution says federal judges “shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour.”5Congress.gov. U.S. Constitution – Article III In practice, that means a Supreme Court justice serves for life. There is no mandatory retirement age, and the Constitution imposes no minimum age, education, or citizenship requirement for the position either.6Supreme Court of the United States. Frequently Asked Questions – General Information
When a justice does choose to step aside, federal law offers two options: full retirement or senior status. Both are governed by what is often called the Rule of 80. A justice qualifies once age plus years of federal judicial service total at least 80, with a minimum age of 65. A 65-year-old needs 15 years of service, a 70-year-old needs 10, and so on. A justice who retires under this rule can draw an annuity equal to their salary, or take senior status and continue on full pay with a lighter caseload.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 371 – Retirement on Salary; Retirement in Senior Status8United States Courts. FAQs – Federal Judges – Section: What Is a Senior Judge?
With Barrett and Jackson both in their fifties, and four other justices in their sixties or early seventies, the current Court could hold its present shape well into the 2040s if no one chooses to leave early.