document_title: List of United States Supreme Court Justices by time in office

question_text: who was the longest serving supreme court justice

text: Justices by time in office[edit]

text:
Longest Supreme Court tenure

William O. Douglas
13,358 days
(1939–1975)

Stephen Johnson Field
12,614 days
(1863–1897)

Shortest Supreme Court tenure[a]

James F. Byrnes
452 days
(1941–1942)

Thomas Johnson
163 days
(1792–1793)

text:
Rank
Justice
Length
in days
Start date[1]
End date[1]

1
Douglas, William O.William O. Douglas
7004133580000000000♠13,358
000000001939-04-17-0000April 17, 1939
000000001975-11-12-0000November 12, 1975

2
Field, Stephen JohnsonStephen Johnson Field
7004126140000000000♠12,614
000000001863-05-20-0000May 20, 1863
000000001897-12-01-0000December 1, 1897

3
Stevens, John PaulJohn Paul Stevens
7004126110000000000♠12,611
000000001975-12-19-0000December 19, 1975
000000002010-06-29-0000June 29, 2010

4
Marshall, JohnJohn Marshall[b]
7004125700000000000♠12,570
000000001801-02-04-0000February 4, 1801
000000001835-07-06-0000July 6, 1835

5
Black, HugoHugo Black
7004124470000000000♠12,447
000000001937-08-19-0000August 19, 1937
000000001971-09-17-0000September 17, 1971

6
Harlan, John MarshallJohn Marshall Harlan
7004123600000000000♠12,360
000000001877-12-10-0000December 10, 1877
000000001911-10-14-0000October 14, 1911

7
Brennan Jr., William J.William J. Brennan Jr.
7004123300000000000♠12,330
000000001956-10-16-0000October 16, 1956
000000001990-07-20-0000July 20, 1990

8
Rehnquist, WilliamWilliam Rehnquist[b]
7004122930000000000♠12,293[c]
000000001972-01-07-0000January 7, 1972
September 26, 1986
000000002005-09-03-0000September 26, 1986
September 3, 2005

9
Story, JosephJoseph Story
7004122730000000000♠12,273
000000001812-02-03-0000February 3, 1812
000000001845-09-10-0000September 10, 1845

10
Wayne, James MooreJames Moore Wayne
7004118600000000000♠11,860
000000001835-01-14-0000January 14, 1835
000000001867-07-05-0000July 5, 1867

11
McLean, JohnJohn McLean
7004114060000000000♠11,406
000000001830-01-11-0000January 11, 1830
000000001861-04-04-0000April 4, 1861

12
White, ByronByron White
7004113960000000000♠11,396
000000001962-04-16-0000April 16, 1962
000000001993-06-28-0000June 28, 1993

13
Washington, BushrodBushrod Washington
7004112520000000000♠11,252
000000001799-02-04-0000February 4, 1799
000000001829-11-26-0000November 26, 1829

14
Kennedy, AnthonyAnthony Kennedy
7004110580000000000♠11,058[d]
000000001988-02-18-0000February 18, 1988
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

15
Johnson, WilliamWilliam Johnson
7004110460000000000♠11,046
000000001804-05-07-0000May 7, 1804
000000001834-08-04-0000August 4, 1834

16
Scalia, AntoninAntonin Scalia
7004107320000000000♠10,732
000000001986-09-26-0000September 26, 1986
000000002016-02-13-0000February 13, 2016

17
Holmes, Oliver WendellOliver Wendell Holmes
7004106270000000000♠10,627
000000001902-12-08-0000December 8, 1902
000000001932-01-12-0000January 12, 1932

18
Taney, Roger B.Roger B. Taney[b]
7004104250000000000♠10,425
000000001836-03-28-0000March 28, 1836
000000001864-10-12-0000October 12, 1864

19
Miller, Samuel FreemanSamuel Freeman Miller
7004103110000000000♠10,311
000000001862-07-21-0000July 21, 1862
000000001890-10-13-0000October 13, 1890

20
Catron, JohnJohn Catron
7004102560000000000♠10,256
000000001837-05-01-0000May 1, 1837
000000001865-05-30-0000May 30, 1865

21
Nelson, SamuelSamuel Nelson
7004101360000000000♠10,136
000000001845-02-27-0000February 27, 1845
000000001872-11-28-0000November 28, 1872

22
White, Edward DouglassEdward Douglass White[b]
7003992900000000000♠9,929[c]
000000001894-03-12-0000March 12, 1894
December 19, 1910
000000001921-05-19-0000December 19, 1910
May 19, 1921

23
McKenna, JosephJoseph McKenna
7003984000000000000♠9,840
000000001898-01-26-0000January 26, 1898
000000001925-01-05-0000January 5, 1925

24
Thomas, ClarenceClarence Thomas
7003971500000000000♠9,715[d]
000000001991-10-23-0000October 23, 1991
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

25
Van Devanter, WillisWillis Van Devanter
7003964700000000000♠9,647
000000001911-01-03-0000January 3, 1911
000000001937-06-02-0000June 2, 1937

26
McReynolds, James ClarkJames Clark McReynolds
7003960800000000000♠9,608
000000001914-10-12-0000October 12, 1914
000000001941-01-31-0000January 31, 1941

27
Ginsburg, Ruth BaderRuth Bader Ginsburg
7003905800000000000♠9,058[d]
000000001993-08-10-0000August 10, 1993
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

28
O'Connor, Sandra DaySandra Day O'Connor
7003889400000000000♠8,894
000000001981-09-25-0000September 25, 1981
000000002006-01-31-0000January 31, 2006

29
Blackmun, HarryHarry Blackmun
7003882100000000000♠8,821
000000001970-06-09-0000June 9, 1970
000000001994-08-03-0000August 3, 1994

30
Marshall, ThurgoodThurgood Marshall
7003876500000000000♠8,765
000000001967-10-02-0000October 2, 1967
000000001991-10-01-0000October 1, 1991

31
Breyer, StephenStephen Breyer
7003870000000000000♠8,700[d]
000000001994-08-03-0000August 3, 1994
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

32
Frankfurter, FelixFelix Frankfurter
7003861100000000000♠8,611
000000001939-01-30-0000January 30, 1939
000000001962-08-28-0000August 28, 1962

33
Clifford, NathanNathan Clifford
7003858600000000000♠8,586
000000001858-01-21-0000January 21, 1858
000000001881-07-25-0000July 25, 1881

34
Grier, Robert CooperRobert Cooper Grier
7003857500000000000♠8,575
000000001846-08-10-0000August 10, 1846
000000001870-01-31-0000January 31, 1870

35
Duvall, GabrielGabriel Duvall
7003845300000000000♠8,453
000000001811-11-23-0000November 23, 1811
000000001835-01-14-0000January 14, 1835

36
Stewart, PotterPotter Stewart
7003829800000000000♠8,298
000000001958-10-14-0000October 14, 1958
000000001981-07-03-0000July 3, 1981

37
Brandeis, LouisLouis Brandeis
7003828800000000000♠8,288
000000001916-06-05-0000June 5, 1916
000000001939-02-13-0000February 13, 1939

38
Bradley, Joseph P.Joseph P. Bradley
7003797500000000000♠7,975
000000001870-03-23-0000March 23, 1870
000000001892-01-22-0000January 22, 1892

39
Fuller, MelvilleMelville Fuller[b]
7003793800000000000♠7,938
000000001888-10-08-0000October 8, 1888
000000001910-07-04-0000July 4, 1910

40
Stone, Harlan F.Harlan F. Stone[b]
7003772100000000000♠7,721[c]
000000001925-03-02-0000March 2, 1925
July 3, 1941
000000001941-07-02-0000July 2, 1941
April 22, 1946

41
Gray, HoraceHorace Gray
7003755300000000000♠7,553
000000001882-01-09-0000January 9, 1882
000000001902-09-15-0000September 15, 1902

42
Cushing, WilliamWilliam Cushing
7003752700000000000♠7,527
000000001790-02-02-0000February 2, 1790
000000001810-09-13-0000September 13, 1810

43
Thompson, SmithSmith Thompson
7003741300000000000♠7,413
000000001823-09-01-0000September 1, 1823
000000001843-12-18-0000December 18, 1843

44
Brewer, David JosiahDavid Josiah Brewer
7003738500000000000♠7,385
000000001890-01-06-0000January 6, 1890
000000001910-03-28-0000March 28, 1910

45
Day, William R.William R. Day
7003719600000000000♠7,196
000000001903-03-02-0000March 2, 1903
000000001922-11-13-0000November 13, 1922

46
Reed, Stanley FormanStanley Forman Reed
7003696500000000000♠6,965
000000001938-01-31-0000January 31, 1938
000000001957-02-25-0000February 25, 1957

47
Swayne, Noah HaynesNoah Haynes Swayne
7003693700000000000♠6,937
000000001862-01-27-0000January 27, 1862
000000001881-01-24-0000January 24, 1881

48
Todd, ThomasThomas Todd
7003685400000000000♠6,854
000000001807-05-04-0000May 4, 1807
000000001826-02-07-0000February 7, 1826

49
Souter, DavidDavid Souter
7003683800000000000♠6,838
000000001990-10-09-0000October 9, 1990
000000002009-06-29-0000June 29, 2009

50
Daniel, Peter VivianPeter Vivian Daniel
7003671600000000000♠6,716
000000001842-01-10-0000January 10, 1842
000000001860-05-31-0000May 31, 1860

51
Clark, Tom C.Tom C. Clark
7003650100000000000♠6,501
000000001949-08-24-0000August 24, 1949
000000001967-06-12-0000June 12, 1967

52
Burger, Warren E.Warren E. Burger[b]
7003630400000000000♠6,304
000000001969-06-23-0000June 23, 1969
000000001986-09-26-0000September 26, 1986

53
Hughes, Charles EvansCharles Evans Hughes[b]
7003621400000000000♠6,214[c]
000000001910-10-10-0000October 10, 1910
February 24, 1930
000000001941-06-30-0000June 10, 1916
June 30, 1941

54
Butler, PiercePierce Butler
7003616200000000000♠6,162
000000001923-01-02-0000January 2, 1923
000000001939-11-16-0000November 16, 1939

55
Harlan II, John MarshallJohn Marshall Harlan II
7003602300000000000♠6,023
000000001955-03-28-0000March 28, 1955
000000001971-09-23-0000September 23, 1971

56
Livingston, Henry BrockholstHenry Brockholst Livingston
7003590100000000000♠5,901
000000001807-01-20-0000January 20, 1807
000000001823-03-18-0000March 18, 1823

57
Warren, EarlEarl Warren[b]
7003574000000000000♠5,740
000000001953-10-05-0000October 5, 1953
000000001969-06-23-0000June 23, 1969

58
Powell, Lewis FranklinLewis Franklin Powell
7003564900000000000♠5,649
000000001972-01-07-0000January 7, 1972
000000001987-06-26-0000June 26, 1987

59
Brown, Henry BillingsHenry Billings Brown
7003562100000000000♠5,621
000000001891-01-05-0000January 5, 1891
000000001906-05-28-0000May 28, 1906

60
Chase, SamuelSamuel Chase
7003561300000000000♠5,613
000000001796-02-04-0000February 4, 1796
000000001811-06-19-0000June 19, 1811

61
Sutherland, GeorgeGeorge Sutherland
7003558600000000000♠5,586
000000001922-10-02-0000October 2, 1922
000000001938-01-17-0000January 17, 1938

62
Roberts, OwenOwen Roberts
7003553800000000000♠5,538
000000001930-06-02-0000June 2, 1930
000000001945-07-31-0000July 31, 1945

63
McKinley, JohnJohn McKinley
7003530500000000000♠5,305
000000001838-01-09-0000January 9, 1838
000000001852-07-19-0000July 19, 1852

64
Baldwin, HenryHenry Baldwin
7003520700000000000♠5,207
000000001830-01-18-0000January 18, 1830
000000001844-04-21-0000April 21, 1844

65
Davis, DavidDavid Davis
7003519800000000000♠5,198
000000001862-12-10-0000December 10, 1862
000000001877-03-04-0000March 4, 1877

66
Waite, MorrisonMorrison Waite[b]
7003513300000000000♠5,133
000000001874-03-04-0000March 4, 1874
000000001888-03-23-0000March 23, 1888

67
Peckham, Rufus WheelerRufus Wheeler Peckham
7003503900000000000♠5,039
000000001896-01-06-0000January 6, 1896
000000001909-10-24-0000October 24, 1909

68
Paterson, WilliamWilliam Paterson
7003492900000000000♠4,929
000000001793-03-11-0000March 11, 1793
000000001806-09-09-0000September 9, 1806

69
Jackson, Robert H.Robert H. Jackson
7003483800000000000♠4,838
000000001941-07-11-0000July 11, 1941
000000001954-10-09-0000October 9, 1954

70
Burton, Harold HitzHarold Hitz Burton
7003476000000000000♠4,760
000000001945-10-01-0000October 1, 1945
000000001958-10-13-0000October 13, 1958

71
Roberts, JohnJohn Roberts[b]
7003462500000000000♠4,625[d]
000000002005-09-29-0000September 29, 2005
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

72
Alito, SamuelSamuel Alito
7003450100000000000♠4,501[d]
000000002006-01-31-0000January 31, 2006
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

73
Blatchford, SamuelSamuel Blatchford
7003411300000000000♠4,113
000000001882-04-03-0000April 3, 1882
000000001893-07-07-0000July 7, 1893

74
Pitney, MahlonMahlon Pitney
7003394000000000000♠3,940
000000001912-03-18-0000March 18, 1912
000000001922-12-31-0000December 31, 1922

75
Strong, WilliamWilliam Strong
7003392800000000000♠3,928
000000001870-03-14-0000March 14, 1870
000000001880-12-14-0000December 14, 1880

76
Shiras Jr., GeorgeGeorge Shiras Jr.
7003378700000000000♠3,787
000000001892-10-10-0000October 10, 1892
000000001903-02-23-0000February 23, 1903

77
Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy
7003345200000000000♠3,452
000000001940-02-05-0000February 5, 1940
000000001949-07-19-0000July 19, 1949

78
Iredell, JamesJames Iredell
7003344800000000000♠3,448
000000001790-05-12-0000May 12, 1790
000000001799-10-20-0000October 20, 1799

79
Hunt, WardWard Hunt
7003330500000000000♠3,305
000000001873-01-09-0000January 9, 1873
000000001882-01-27-0000January 27, 1882

80
Wilson, JamesJames Wilson
7003324200000000000♠3,242
000000001789-10-05-0000October 5, 1789
000000001798-08-21-0000August 21, 1798

81
Sotomayor, SoniaSonia Sotomayor
7003321600000000000♠3,216[d]
000000002009-08-08-0000August 8, 2009
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

82
Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft[b]
7003312900000000000♠3,129
000000001921-07-11-0000July 11, 1921
000000001930-02-03-0000February 3, 1930

83
Chase, Salmon P.Salmon P. Chase[b]
7003306500000000000♠3,065
000000001864-12-15-0000December 15, 1864
000000001873-05-07-0000May 7, 1873

84
Campbell, John ArchibaldJohn Archibald Campbell
7003294100000000000♠2,941
000000001853-04-11-0000April 11, 1853
000000001861-04-30-0000April 30, 1861

85
Matthews, StanleyStanley Matthews
7003286600000000000♠2,866
000000001881-05-17-0000May 17, 1881
000000001889-03-22-0000March 22, 1889

86
Kagan, ElenaElena Kagan
7003285200000000000♠2,852[d]
000000002010-08-07-0000August 7, 2010
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

87
Vinson, Fred M.Fred M. Vinson[b]
7003263300000000000♠2,633
000000001946-06-24-0000June 24, 1946
000000001953-09-08-0000September 8, 1953

88
Sanford, Edward TerryEdward Terry Sanford
7003257400000000000♠2,574
000000001923-02-19-0000February 19, 1923
000000001930-03-08-0000March 8, 1930

89
Minton, ShermanSherman Minton
7003256000000000000♠2,560
000000001949-10-12-0000October 12, 1949
000000001956-10-15-0000October 15, 1956

90
Rutledge, Wiley BlountWiley Blount Rutledge
7003239900000000000♠2,399
000000001943-02-15-0000February 15, 1943
000000001949-09-10-0000September 10, 1949

91
Woods, William BurnhamWilliam Burnham Woods
7003232000000000000♠2,320
000000001881-01-05-0000January 5, 1881
000000001887-05-14-0000May 14, 1887

92
Cardozo, Benjamin N.Benjamin N. Cardozo
7003230800000000000♠2,308
000000001932-03-14-0000March 14, 1932
000000001938-07-09-0000July 9, 1938

93
Curtis, Benjamin RobbinsBenjamin Robbins Curtis
7003218200000000000♠2,182
000000001851-10-10-0000October 10, 1851
000000001857-09-30-0000September 30, 1857

94
Woodbury, LeviLevi Woodbury
7003217200000000000♠2,172
000000001845-09-23-0000September 23, 1845
000000001851-09-04-0000September 4, 1851

95
Clarke, John HessinJohn Hessin Clarke
7003217000000000000♠2,170
000000001916-10-09-0000October 9, 1916
000000001922-09-18-0000September 18, 1922

96
Blair, JohnJohn Blair
7003209100000000000♠2,091
000000001790-02-02-0000February 2, 1790
000000001795-10-25-0000October 25, 1795

97
Jay, JohnJohn Jay[b]
7003207900000000000♠2,079
000000001789-10-19-0000October 19, 1789
000000001795-06-29-0000June 29, 1795

98 (tie)
Lamar, Lucius Quintus CincinnatusLucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar
7003183200000000000♠1,832
000000001888-01-18-0000January 18, 1888
000000001893-01-23-0000January 23, 1893

Whittaker, Charles EvansCharles Evans Whittaker
7003183200000000000♠1,832
000000001957-03-25-0000March 25, 1957
000000001962-03-31-0000March 31, 1962

100
Lamar, Joseph RuckerJoseph Rucker Lamar
7003182500000000000♠1,825
000000001911-01-03-0000January 3, 1911
000000001916-01-02-0000January 2, 1916

101
Barbour, Philip PendletonPhilip Pendleton Barbour
7003175000000000000♠1,750
000000001836-05-12-0000May 12, 1836
000000001841-02-25-0000February 25, 1841

102
Ellsworth, OliverOliver Ellsworth[b]
7003174200000000000♠1,742
000000001796-03-08-0000March 8, 1796
000000001800-12-15-0000December 15, 1800

103
Lurton, Horace HarmonHorace Harmon Lurton
7003165100000000000♠1,651
000000001910-01-03-0000January 3, 1910
000000001914-07-12-0000July 12, 1914

104
Moody, William HenryWilliam Henry Moody
7003143400000000000♠1,434
000000001906-12-17-0000December 17, 1906
000000001910-11-20-0000November 20, 1910

105
Moore, AlfredAlfred Moore
7003137500000000000♠1,375
000000001800-04-21-0000April 21, 1800
000000001804-01-26-0000January 26, 1804

106
Fortas, AbeAbe Fortas
7003131800000000000♠1,318
000000001965-10-04-0000October 4, 1965
000000001969-05-14-0000May 14, 1969

107
Goldberg, ArthurArthur Goldberg
7003102800000000000♠1,028
000000001962-10-01-0000October 1, 1962
000000001965-07-25-0000July 25, 1965

108
Jackson, Howell EdmundsHowell Edmunds Jackson
7002887000000000000♠887
000000001893-03-04-0000March 4, 1893
000000001895-08-08-0000August 8, 1895

109
Trimble, RobertRobert Trimble
7002801000000000000♠801
000000001826-06-16-0000June 16, 1826
000000001828-08-25-0000August 25, 1828

110
Rutledge, JohnJohn Rutledge[b]
7002563000000000000♠563[c]
000000001790-02-15-0000February 15, 1790
July 1, 1795
000000001795-12-28-0000March 5, 1791
December 28, 1795

111
Byrnes, James F.James F. Byrnes
7002452000000000000♠452
000000001941-07-08-0000July 8, 1941
000000001942-10-03-0000October 3, 1942

112
Gorsuch, NeilNeil Gorsuch
7002414000000000000♠414[d]
000000002017-04-10-0000April 10, 2017
000000002018-05-29-0000Incumbent

113
Johnson, ThomasThomas Johnson
7002163000000000000♠163
000000001792-08-06-0000August 6, 1792
000000001793-01-16-0000January 16, 1793

text: Notes[edit]

text:
Jump up ^ Excluding Neil Gorsuch, the junior-most incumbent justice, who joined the Supreme Court in April 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Served as chief justice
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Tenure as associate justice and chief justice combined
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i As of May 29, 2018