28 USC § 4 - Precedence of associate justices

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t28/s4"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "28 USC § 4 - Precedence of associate justices"
title_number: 28
title_name: "JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "4"
section_name: "Precedence of associate justices"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "SUPREME COURT"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "ORGANIZATION OF COURTS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 869.)"
---


# § 4. Precedence of associate justices

Associate justices shall have precedence according to the seniority of their commissions. Justices whose commissions bear the same date shall have precedence according to seniority in age.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 869.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 322 (, ).

Minor changes in phraseology were made.