First a president nominates a candidate for supreme court justice and then the senate holds hearings and decide whether or not to confirm the nominee. How quickly a candidate gets confirmed depends on how lengthy the confirmation hearings last and how long it takes to bring the notion to a vote. Once a candidate is confirmed, they are soon sworn in and are then supreme court justices.
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They have to be adults, but aside from that, there are no requirements - the president can appoint anyone he likes. Of course, they have to be confirmed by congress, so someone totally unqualified likely would not make it. Once appointed, they serve for life.
President Bill Clinton nominated Stephen Breyer to replace Justice Harry Blackmun, who retired in 1994. Breyer joined the US Supreme Court in August 1994; as of January 2010, he has served more than fifteen years on the bench.
A Missouri Supreme Court Justice initially serves for one year. After they have served at least one year, they are placed on the General Election Ballot and the Missouri voters vote to keep him/her on the Supreme Court. If they are kept on, they are seated on the Supreme Court for twelve years.
Justice Clarence Thomas was nominated by President George H. W. Bush in 1991 to replace Justice Thurgood Marshall, who was retiring. Thomas officially joined the Court in October of that year, and is an incumbent (still sitting). When the 2009-2010 Term begins in October, Thomas will have 18 years tenure on the Court.
US Supreme Court justices don't run for office, they are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Once a justice has been appointed, he or she may serve for life, or until resignation, retirement or impeachment and conviction. In states where supreme court justices are elected, the term of office and number of terms allowed vary. For more information, specify a state.