Panel of judges in Supreme Court - Odd number?

[akerkarprashant]

In Supreme Court, the panel of judges will always be a odd number? 3,5,7 so the decision in terms of votes count verdict will always outcome a result and not a tie?

 

[Astronuc]

3,5,7 so the decision in terms of votes count verdict will always outcome a result and not a tie?

That appears to be the intent. Of course, the situation may be complicated of one judge recuses themself based on a conflict; for example, in a potential 5:4 split, one of the 5 recuses themself.

 

[Vanadium 50]

will always outcome a result and not a tie?

Did you do any research on this? Any at all?

There was a tie as recently as 202-, and several in 2015.

 

[collinsmark]

In Supreme Court, the panel of judges will always be a odd number? 3,5,7 so the decision in terms of votes count verdict will always outcome a result and not a tie?

There's nothing in the US constitution which stipulates the number of Supreme Court Justices. Nor is there anything which stipulates their length of stay.

Yes, it seems that the number of justices has been an odd number to avert ties, but it doesn't have to be that way. Legislation can change that.

The lifetime appointments are in place, presumably to avoid partisan judges/justices. But that can also be changed without requiring a constitutional amendment, since the constitution doesn't stipulate anything about that.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Nor is there anything which stipulates their length of stay.

People have argued that the "good behavior" clause is the basis of lifetie appointments.

In my previous message, I meant 2016.

 

[JT Smith]

It started out as an even number: 6. At a later time it was 10.
You could have looked that up in less than two minutes.

If there is a tie the Constitution stipulates that the Chief Justice and one of the members who voted opposite have either a pistol duel or a naked wrestling match to settle the issue.

 

[Vanadium 50]

naked wrestling match

My money is on William Howard Taft.

 

[StevieTNZ]

Can I just say how much I absolutely LOVE Sonia Sotomayor!