Skip to content
RollCall logo

How Long Do High Court Vacancies Usually Last?

Scalia, shown here with then-Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 1992, served on the court for nearly 30 years. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Scalia, shown here with then-Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 1992, served on the court for nearly 30 years. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)
By Sean McMinn
Posted February 14, 2016 at 5:24pm

With a battle brewing between Senate Republicans and the White House, we looked back at past Supreme Court vacancy lengths.  

This year could be historic.  


vacancies-scotus-01

Clarification: There have been 60 vacancies since 1900, which includes instances where associate justices have assumed the role of chief justice.

Recent Stories

Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap is the Democratic nominee for the state's battleground 2nd District.

DCCC adds Maine’s Matt Dunlap and 4 others to ‘Red to Blue’ program

Marine Corps veteran Maura Sullivan, a Democrat running for New Hampshire's 1st District, recites the Pledge of Allegiance during a candidate “speed dating” event at City Hall in Dover on Aug. 13. Candidates spoke with different groups of voters in 15-minute rounds. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Roll Call on the Road: New England

Heidi Overton previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump picks White House adviser Overton to head FDA

President Donald Trump wears a “Trump 2028” hat while he speaks during the 2026 White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., on July 24.

Trump keeps 2028 door cracked, while calling law ‘very strong’ prohibiting third term

Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Capitol on July 17. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Wildland firefighting bill gains steam as smoke reaches Congress

Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., left, joined House Democrats who represent the San Diego area in seeking an investigation into the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll file photo)

Democrats’ gripes with Iran war grow as conflict nears six months