U.S. Supreme Court justices and the administrations that appointed them

Political Science

Supreme Court Justices

There are currently nine Supreme Court Justices on the Supreme Court of the United States. Clearly, the Supreme Court shows a definite conservative tendency, with seven of the nine justices appointed by Republican Presidents, and only two appointed by Democratic Presidents ("Justices").

The Chief Justice of the Court is William H. Rehnquist, who has served on the Court since 1972, and has been the Chief Justice since 1986. He was nominated to the court by President Richard Nixon, and nominated for Chief Justice by President Ronald Reagan. He is a conservative in almost all matters facing the Court (Shapiro 153).

John Paul Stevens is an Associate Justice on the Court. He has served on the Court since 1975, and was nominated by President Gerald Ford as an Associate Justice. Sandra Day O' Connor is also an Associate Justice on the Court. She has served since 1981, and was nominated by President Ronald Reagan. She is the first woman to ever sit on the Supreme Court (Shapiro 81). Antonin Scalia is an Associate Justice on the Court. He has served since 1986, and was nominated by President Ronald Reagan. Anthony M. Kennedy is also an Associate Justice on the Court. He has served since 1988, and President Ronald Reagan nominated him. David Hackett Souter is an Associate Justice on the Court. He has served since 1990, and President George H.W. Bush nominated him to the Court. Clarence Thomas is also an Associate Justice. His nomination was quite controversial, as testimony by Anita Hill hoped to block his acceptance on the Court by accusing him of sexual harassment (O'Malley). He began serving in 1991, and was nominated by President George H.W. Bush. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an Associate Justice on the Court. She has served since 1993, and was nominated by President Bill Clinton. Stephen G. Breyer is the final Associate Justice. He has served since 1994, and was nominated by President Bill Clinton.