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The Federalist-dominated Congress set the size of the US Supreme Court at five (by attrition) in the Judiciary Act of 1801 in order to prevent incoming Democratic-Republican President Thomas Jefferson from influencing the Court's decisions by nominating members of his party to any potential vacancies. The newly elected Congress repealed the legislation, returning the number of justices to six before any changes occurred. Not counting temporary vacancies, the fewest authorized members of the Court was six.

Congress increased the size of the Court in the Tenth Circuit Act of 1863 from 9 to 10, where it remained for three years, before dropping to seven justices in the Judiciary Act of 1866. This action was taken in order to prevent President Andrew Johnson from naming any justices to the Court. The legislation eliminated a vacancy created by the death of William Catron, which reduced the number of justices from 10 to 9. When Justice James Moore Wayne died in 1867, the size of the Court was briefly reduced to 8 members, but never reached the 7 targeted by Congress.

According to legislation, the Supreme Court ranged in size from five to ten justices; in reality, there were never fewer than six justices, and the full complement of ten justices sat for only one week, in December 1863, due to illness and subsequent vacancies.

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Q: What is the least and most number of justices that have been on the US Supreme Court at one time?
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Who is least influenced by public opinion?

Supreme court justices


What is the minimum number of Supreme Court Justices required?

Required for what? There are no constitutional mandates governing the number of justices seated on the Supreme Court; such details were left to Congress. Congress determined that a Judiciary Act should never allow fewer than six justices; the current legislation requires nine. A quorum of the current Supreme Court requires at least six justices to hear and decide a case.


For the majority ruling on the Supreme Court there needs to be at least justices who agree?

For a majority ruling on the Supreme Court, a minimum of five out of the nine justices must agree. This is because a majority decision requires more than half of the justices to support a particular outcome or opinion. It is necessary to have a majority in order to establish a binding decision for the Court.


For a majority ruling on the Supreme Court there needs to be at least justices who agree.?

There are currently 9 Supreme Court Justices, so for there to be a majority ruling, 5 would have to rule a certain way.


A simple majority of the justices is enough to render a Court opinion?

Yes, a simple majority of the justices is enough to render a Court opinion. In the U.S. Supreme Court, for example, there are nine justices, and a majority vote of at least five justices is required to decide a case and issue a written opinion.


Should the supreme court have 9 justices or more?

yes there should be at least 13 of them .


How many US Supreme Court justices must agree to hear an appeal?

The US Supreme Court determines whether to hear a case according to the Rule of Four. If at least four of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court agree, they will grant certiorari and hear the case.


How many justices will have to agree before the Court will accept a case?

The US Supreme Court determines whether to hear a case according to the Rule of Four. If at least four of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court agree, they will grant certiorari and hear the case.


How many supreme court judges have hear a case?

Typically, all nine justices of the US Supreme Court hear a case together; however, many cases have been decided with fewer justices. Federal law requires a quorum of at least six justices hear each case.


What is the rule of four in the supreme court?

The Rule of Four has nothing to do with arguing before the US Supreme Court. It refers to the number of US Supreme Court justices who must agree to hear a case before the case can be accepted on appeal. If four justices sign off on a petition for writ of certiorari (request for review), the case will be added to the Court's docket. For more information, see Related Questions, below.


The Supreme Court must have a to render a decision in a case.?

The Supreme Court must have a simple majority to render a decision in a case.


Do you have to be certified to be a US Supreme Court justice?

Certified as what? The ABA suggests, and all US Supreme Court justices have been, licensed members in good standing of at least one state bar.