Skip Navigation
termlimits scatter
Resource

How Supreme Court Terms Have Changed over Time

This interactive data visualization shows how justices are serving longer terms than ever before.

October 6, 2026
termlimits scatter
October 6, 2026

Supreme Court justices have lifetime appointments. For most of the Court’s history, that translated to a median of 15 years of service, but in the past 60 years, that number has ballooned to 25 years, resulting in a far greater impact on the Court and the country. 

This interactive tool features a chart of all 116 justices based on when their term began and the total number of years they served. 

More Interactives