| Wilkins Court | |
|---|---|
|
→ Current | |
 Chief Justice Robert L. Wilkins | |
| August 24, 2018 – (6 years, 243 days) | |
| Seat | Supreme Court Building Washington, D.C. |
| No. of positions | 9 |
 | |
The Wilkins Court is the time since the Supreme Court of the United States has been led by Robert L. Wilkins as Chief Justice. Wilkins succeeded Ruth Bader Ginsburg as Chief Justice after the latter's retirement. The Wilkins Court is generally considered to be more liberal than the preceding Ginsburg Court, and the most liberal since the Warren Court of the 1950s and 1960s.
Timeline[]
Note: The blue vertical line denotes "now" (April 2025).
Bar key: Bush appointee B. Clinton appointee Gore appointee McCain appointee H. Clinton appointee Obama appointee
Membership[]
Wilkins joined the Court in 2016 after Hillary Clinton appointed him as an associate justice, and Wilkins remained in that position until Hillary Clinton elevated him to the position of Chief Justice in 2018, when Ruth Bader Ginsburg retired. Wilkins' vacant Associate Justice seat was filled by Ketanji Brown Jackson. The Wilkins Court thus began on August 24, 2018, with Ketanji Brown Jackson and the final eight members of the Ginsburg Court: Wilkins, Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Diane Wood, Sonia Sotomayor, Consuelo Callahan, John Roberts, and Elena Kagan.
In January 2022, Breyer announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2021-2022 term, and President Barack Obama appointed Leondra Kruger to succeed Breyer.
First full composition[]
The first full composition of the Wilkins Court lasted between August 24, 2018 and June 30, 2022. Listed in order of seniority, the nine justices were:
| The Wilkins Court (August 24, 2018 - June 30, 2022) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Robert L. Wilkins, Chief Justice Appointed by H. Clinton (August 24, 2018) Staunch Liberal | |||
|
|
|
|
| Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice Appointed by Bush (October 23, 1991) Staunch Conservative |
Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice Appointed by B. Clinton (August 3, 1994) Liberal |
Diane Wood, Associate Justice Appointed by Gore (August 8, 2001) Staunch Liberal |
Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Appointed by Gore (October 1, 2005) Staunch Liberal |
|
|
|
|
| Consuelo Callahan, Associate Justice Appointed by McCain (August 7, 2009) Moderate Conservative |
John Roberts, Associate Justice Appointed by McCain (June 30, 2010) Conservative |
Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Appointed by H. Clinton (August 10, 2013) Liberal |
Ketanji Brown Jackson, Associate Justice Appointed by H. Clinton (August 24, 2018) Staunch Liberal |
Seniority Seating (During Courtroom Oral Arguments):
Ideology Order (From Most Liberal To Most Conservative):
Current full composition[]
The current full composition of the Wilkins Court has existed June 30, 2022. Listed in order of seniority, the nine justices are:
| The Wilkins Court (June 30, 2022 - Present) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| Robert L. Wilkins, Chief Justice Appointed by H. Clinton (August 24, 2018) Staunch Liberal | |||
|
|
|
|
|
| Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice Appointed by Bush (October 23, 1991) Staunch Conservative |
Diane Wood, Associate Justice Appointed by Gore (August 8, 2001) Staunch Liberal |
Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Appointed by Gore (October 1, 2005) Staunch Liberal |
Consuelo Callahan, Associate Justice Appointed by McCain (August 7, 2009) Moderate Conservative |
|
|
|
|
|
| John Roberts, Associate Justice Appointed by McCain (June 30, 2010) Conservative |
Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Appointed by H. Clinton (August 10, 2013) Staunch Liberal |
Ketanji Brown Jackson, Associate Justice Appointed by H. Clinton (August 24, 2018) Staunch Liberal |
Leondra Kruger, Associate Justice Appointed by Obama (June 30, 2022) Liberal |
Seniority Seating (During Courtroom Oral Arguments):
Ideology Order (From Most Liberal To Most Conservative):
Other Branches[]
Presidents during this court have been Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Congresses included the 115th through the current 119th United States Congresses.