The judicial branch

The nine Justices are never elected. They are nominated by the President and serve for life, so a Senate confirmation vote — often decades ago — is the only moment the public's representatives ever weighed in. Each Justice's confirmation margin is shown below, alongside how often they landed in the majority in recent decisions.

John G. Roberts Jr.

Chief Justice
Nominated by George W. Bush
Confirmed 2005 · 21 yrs

Senate 78–22

Majority in 26/29 recent · dissented 3×

Clarence Thomas

Associate Justice
Nominated by George H. W. Bush
Confirmed 1991 · 35 yrs

Senate 52–48

Majority in 25/29 recent · dissented 4×

Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Associate Justice
Nominated by George W. Bush
Confirmed 2006 · 20 yrs

Senate 58–42

Majority in 24/28 recent · dissented 4×

Sonia Sotomayor

Associate Justice
Nominated by Barack Obama
Confirmed 2009 · 17 yrs

Senate 68–31

Majority in 22/29 recent · dissented 7×

Elena Kagan

Associate Justice
Nominated by Barack Obama
Confirmed 2010 · 16 yrs

Senate 63–37

Majority in 20/28 recent · dissented 8×

Neil M. Gorsuch

Associate Justice
Nominated by Donald Trump
Confirmed 2017 · 9 yrs

Senate 54–45

Majority in 25/28 recent · dissented 3×

Brett M. Kavanaugh

Associate Justice
Nominated by Donald Trump
Confirmed 2018 · 8 yrs

Senate 50–48

Majority in 27/28 recent · dissented 1×

Amy Coney Barrett

Associate Justice
Nominated by Donald Trump
Confirmed 2020 · 6 yrs

Senate 52–48

Majority in 25/27 recent · dissented 2×

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Associate Justice
Nominated by Joe Biden
Confirmed 2022 · 4 yrs

Senate 53–47

Majority in 22/31 recent · dissented 9×

Recent decisions · 2025 term

Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections · 6–3 · Jun 23, 2026 · dissent: Jackson, Sotomayor, Kagan
Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Corporación Cimex, S.A. (Cuba) · 6–3 · Jun 23, 2026 · dissent: Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson
Pung v. Isabella County · 9–0 · Jun 23, 2026 · unanimous
Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe I · 6–3 · Jun 23, 2026 · dissent: Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson
Blanche v. Lau · 6–3 · Jun 23, 2026 · dissent: Jackson, Kagan, Sotomayor
United States v. Hemani · 9–0 · Jun 18, 2026 · unanimous
Hunter v. United States · 8–1 · Jun 18, 2026 · dissent: Thomas
T. M. v. University of Maryland Medical System Corporation · 5–4 · Jun 18, 2026 · dissent: Barrett, Roberts, Kagan, Gorsuch
FS Credit Opportunities Corp. v. Saba Capital Master Fund, Ltd. · 6–3 · Jun 11, 2026 · dissent: Kagan, Sotomayor, Jackson
Keathley v. Buddy Ayers Construction, Incorporated · 9–0 · Jun 11, 2026 · unanimous
Abouammo v. United States · 9–0 · Jun 11, 2026 · unanimous
Federal Communications Commission v. AT&T, Inc. · 8–1 · Jun 4, 2026 · dissent: Thomas
Sripetch v. SEC · 9–0 · Jun 4, 2026 · unanimous
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. v. Amarin Pharma, Inc. · 9–0 · Jun 4, 2026 · unanimous
Fernandez v. United States · 8–1 · May 28, 2026 · dissent: Jackson
Rutherford v. United States · 6–3 · May 28, 2026 · dissent: Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson
Flowers Foods, Inc. v. Brock · 9–0 · May 28, 2026 · unanimous
Pitchford v. Cain · 5–4 · May 28, 2026 · dissent: Gorsuch, Thomas, Alito, Barrett
M & K Employee Solutions, LLC v. Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund · 9–0 · May 21, 2026 · unanimous
Hamm v. Smith · 2–4 · May 21, 2026 · dissent: Thomas, Alito, Roberts, Gorsuch
Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC · 9–0 · May 14, 2026 · unanimous
First Choice Women's Resource Centers, Inc. v. Platkin · 9–0 · Apr 29, 2026 · unanimous
Louisiana v. Callais · 6–3 · Apr 29, 2026 · dissent: Kagan, Sotomayor, Jackson
Enbridge Energy, LP v. Nessel · 9–0 · Apr 22, 2026 · unanimous
Hencely v. Fluor Corporation · 6–3 · Apr 22, 2026 · dissent: Roberts, Alito, Kavanaugh
Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana · 8–0 · Apr 17, 2026 · unanimous
Chiles v. Salazar · 8–1 · Mar 31, 2026 · dissent: Jackson
Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment · 9–0 · Mar 25, 2026 · unanimous
Rico v. United States · 8–1 · Mar 25, 2026 · dissent: Alito

Petition the judicial branch

You cannot vote for or petition a Justice — they answer to no electorate. The one democratic lever is the Senate that confirms them (and can impeach them). Tell your senators what you expect of a lifetime appointment.

Find & contact your senators Read / hear oral arguments ↗

Membership and confirmation votes are hand-maintained; recent decisions and vote alignments come from Oyez. Official biographies: supremecourt.gov. Portraits: official government works via Wikimedia Commons.