State
Court(s)
Mode of selection
Term (Years)
Retirement age
Number of members
Afghanistan
Supreme Court of Afghanistan [a]
Appointed by the supreme leader
-
-
-
Albania
Constitutional Court of Albania
3 members appointed by the President 3 members elected by 3/5 of the Assembly 3 members elected by the High Court
9
70
9
Supreme Court of Albania
Appointed by the President with the consent of Parliament
9
70
17
Algeria
Constitutional Court of Algeria
4 members appointed by the President 2 elected by the Supreme Court 2 elected by the Council of State
6
-
12
Supreme Court of Algeria
appointed by the executive
-
-
-
Andorra
Superior Court of Justice
-
-
-
-
Angola
Supreme Court of Angola
appointed by the president
Constitutional Court of Angola
Four are appointed by the President, four by the National Assembly, two by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, and one elected by the public
11
Antigua and Barbuda
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Argentina
Supreme Court of Argentina
Presidential nomination with Senate of Argentina confirmation (Judges)
Ministers of the Supreme Court (President)
-
75
5
Armenia
Constitutional Court of Armenia
Elected/appointed by the National Assembly with an equal number of nominations by the president , the government and a general meeting of judges
12 years, non-renewable
70
9
Court of Cassation
Australia
High Court of Australia
Appointed by Governor-General following nomination by Prime Minister , and advice from Attorney-General and Cabinet
70
7
Austria
Constitutional Court of Austria
Justices are sworn in by the President on nomination of either the Government , the National Council , or the Federal Council
Mandatory retirement at 70 years of age
14 members (including the President and the Vice President)
6 substitute members
Supreme Court of Justice
Presidential appointment on nomination of the minister of justice
60
Administrative Court of Austria
Azerbaijan
Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan
Supreme Court of Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Supreme Court of the Bahamas
11
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Bahrain
Constitutional Court
Court of Cassation
Supreme Court of Appeal
High Sharia Court of Appeal
Bangladesh
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
The Chief Justice of Bangladesh and other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of Bangladesh with prior mandatory consultation with the Prime Minister.
67
6 in Appellate Division 95 in High Court Division
Barbados
Supreme Court of Judicature
Caribbean Court of Justice
Belarus
Constitutional Court of Belarus [1]
12
Supreme Court of Belarus [a]
Belgium
Constitutional Court
12
Court of Cassation
30
Belize
Supreme Court of Belize
Caribbean Court of Justice
Benin
Constitutional Court of Benin
7
Supreme Court of Benin
High Court of Justice
Bhutan
Supreme Court of Bhutan
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (also called the "Chief Justice of Bhutan"), as well as its Drangpons are appointed by the Druk Gyalpo from among their juniors and peers, or from among other eminent jurists.
10
65
5
Bolivia
Plurinational Constitutional Court
Supreme Court of Justice
9
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
9
Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Court of Appeal
Brazil
Supreme Federal Court
Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation
-
75
11
Superior Court of Justice
33
Brunei
Supreme Court of Brunei
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Bulgaria
Supreme Court of Cassation of Bulgaria
Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Supreme Court of Burkina Faso
Burundi
Supreme Court of Burundi
Cambodia
Constitutional Council of Cambodia
9
Supreme Court of Cambodia
9
Cameroon
Supreme Court of Cameroon [a]
Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
Judicial appointments in Canada
75
9
Cape Verde
Supreme Court of Justice
5 (minimum)
Central African Republic
Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic
Supreme Court of the Central African Republic
Chad
Constitutional Council of Chad
9
Supreme Court of Chad
16
Chile
Constitutional Court of Chile
10
Supreme Court of Chile
21
China
Supreme People's Court [a]
Elected (de facto appointed) by the National People's Congress or Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
400 (approximate)
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (de facto , Hong Kong and Macau)
175
Court of Final Appeal (de jure , Macau )
Appointed by the Chief Executive on nomination of the Independent Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.
Court of Final Appeal (de jure , Hong Kong )
Appointed by the Chief Executive on nomination of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission and with the approval of the Legislative Council
70
Colombia
Constitutional Court of Colombia
9
Supreme Court of Justice
23
Council of State
27
Comoros
Supreme Court of the Comoros
Congo-Brazzaville
Supreme Court of Republic of the Congo
Congo-Kinshasa
Constitutional Court
9
Court of Cassation
26
Council of State
Costa Rica
Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica
Croatia
Supreme Court of Croatia
Elected by the State Judicial Council
Five years in the first term, life tenure after renewal
70
42
Cuba
People's Supreme Court of Cuba [a]
Cyprus
Supreme Court of Cyprus
13
Czech Republic
Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic
15
Supreme Court of the Czech Republic
Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic
Denmark
Supreme Court of Denmark
Appointed by the other judges
70
Djibouti
Supreme Court of Djibouti
Dominica
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Caribbean Court of Justice (see below )
Dominican Republic
Supreme Court of the Dominican Republic
Elected by the National Council of Magistracy
9
-
16
East Timor
Supreme Court of Justice
Ecuador
Constitutional Court of Ecuador
National Court of Justice of Ecuador [a]
Egypt
Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt
Court of Cassation
El Salvador
Supreme Court of El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Constitutional Court of Equatorial Guinea
Supreme Court of Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
High Court of Eritrea
Estonia
Supreme Court of Estonia
Eswatini
High Court of Eswatini
Ethiopia
Federal Supreme Court
Fiji
Supreme Court of Fiji
Finland
Supreme Court of Finland
15 - 1 President a minimum of 14 others. (Currently 17)
Supreme Administrative Court of Finland
France
Constitutional Council
3 members selected by the President of the Republic;
3 members selected by the President of the Senate;
3 members selected by the President of the National Assembly
9 years (non-renewable)
9 + 2 former presidents of the Republic (de facto )
Court of Cassation
Council of State
Gabon
Supreme Court of Gabon
Gambia
Supreme Court of the Gambia
Georgia
Constitutional Court of Georgia
3 Judges Appointed by the President of Georgia ;
3 Judges Elected by the Parliament of Georgia ;
3 Judges designated by the Supreme Court of Georgia
10
9
Supreme Court of Georgia
Germany
Federal Constitutional Court
Election by Bundestag and Bundesrat
12
68
16
Federal Court of Justice
Federal Administrative Court
Federal Fiscal Court
Federal Labour Court
Federal Social Court
Ghana
Supreme Court of Ghana
Greece
Supreme Special Court
Supreme Civil and Criminal Court of Greece
Council of State
Court of Audit
Grenada
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Guatemala
Constitutional Court
Supreme Court of Justice
Guinea
Supreme Court of Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Supreme Court of Judicature
Caribbean Court of Justice [2]
Haiti
Supreme Court of Haiti
Honduras
Supreme Court of Honduras
Hungary
Constitutional Court of Hungary
Supreme Court of Hungary
Iceland
Supreme Court of Iceland
Presidential appointment after Minister of Justice nomination following Qualifications Committee selection. Parliamentary confirmation before appointment if minister nomination differs from committee selection.
no term limit
Life tenure
7 (by statute)
India
Supreme Court of India
Appointed by the President , on recommendations[b] of the Supreme Court Collegium consisting of the 5 senior-most judges of the Supreme Court including the Chief Justice.[3]
no term limit
65
34 including the Chief Justice of India
Indonesia
Constitutional Court of Indonesia
Supreme Court of Indonesia
Iran
Supreme Court of Iran
The chief of the Supreme Court is nominated by the head of the judiciary
5
42
Iraq
Supreme Court of Iraq
Ireland
Supreme Court of Ireland
Appointed by the President , acting on the binding advice of the Government
Once appointed, a judge may only be removed by the Oireachtas for stated misbehaviour or incapacity. Mandatory retirement on reach 70 years of age.
10 and 2 ex officio members
Israel
Supreme Court of Israel
Presidential appointment upon nomination by the Judicial Selection Committee
70
15
Italy
Constitutional Court of Italy
Elected/appointed in equal portions by Italian Parliament , President of the Italian Republic , and highest Italian courts
9 years (not renewable)
15
Supreme Court of Cassation
Ivory Coast
Constitutional Council
Supreme Court of the Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Court of Appeal
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Japan
Supreme Court of Japan
Selected by the Cabinet of Japan
Mandatory retirement at age 70
15
Jordan
Court of Cassation
Kazakhstan
Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan
Supreme Court of Kazakhstan
Kenya
Supreme Court of Kenya
Kiribati
Court of Appeal of Kiribati
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Kuwait
High Court of Appeal of Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan [a]
Laos
People's Supreme Court of Laos
Latvia
Constitutional Court of Latvia
Elected/appointed in 3 portions by Saeima , 2 by Government of Latvia , and 2 by Supreme Court of Latvia
10
-
7
Supreme Court of Latvia
Lebanon
Constitutional Council
Court of Cassation
Lesotho
Lesotho Court of Appeal
Liberia
Supreme Court of Liberia
Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation
no term limit
70
5
Libya
Supreme Court of Libya
Liechtenstein
Supreme Court of Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Constitutional Court of Lithuania
Renewed by a third every three years, each judge nominated by the President , Speaker of Seimas and the Head of the Supreme Court and appointed by Seimas
9 years (only one term allowed)
9
Supreme Court of Lithuania
Luxembourg
Constitutional Court
Superior Court of Justice
Administrative Court
Madagascar
Supreme Court of Madagascar
Malawi
Constitutional Court of Malawi
Supreme Court of Appeal
Malaysia
Federal Court of Malaysia [a]
Royal appointment with the advice of the Prime Minister
Compulsory retirement at age 66 and 6 months
15
Maldives
Supreme Court of the Maldives
Presidential Nomination and then People's Majlis Confirmation
Life tenure
7
Mali
Supreme Court of Mali
Malta
Constitutional Court of Malta
Court of Civil Appeals of Malta
Court of Criminal Appeals of Malta
Marshall Islands
Supreme Court of the Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Supreme Court of Mauritania
Mauritius
Supreme Court of Mauritius
By the President , after consultation with the Prime Minister
67
17
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Mexico
Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation
15
11
Micronesia
Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia
Moldova
Constitutional Court of Moldova
Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova
Monaco
Supreme Court of Monaco
Mongolia
Constitutional Court of Mongolia
Parliamentary, presidential and judicial selection with parliamentary confirmation
9
Supreme Court of Mongolia
Appointment by President of Mongolia after presentation by the General Council of the Courts
25
Montenegro
Constitutional Court of Montenegro , Supreme Court of Montenegro
Morocco
Supreme Court of Morocco
Mozambique
Supreme Court of Mozambique
Myanmar
Constitutional Tribunal of Myanmar
Supreme Court of Myanmar
Namibia
Supreme Court of Namibia
Nauru
Supreme Court of Nauru
Nepal
Supreme Court of Nepal
Presidential nomination with Parliament confirmation
65
21
Netherlands
Supreme Court of the Netherlands
Selected by the House of Representatives on advice of the Supreme Court and appointed by royal decree
70
36
Council of State
New Zealand
Supreme Court of New Zealand
Appointed by the Governor-General on behalf of King Charles III on the advice of the Prime Minister (Chief Justice) and Attorney-General (Justices)
70
6
Nicaragua
Supreme Court of Nicaragua
Niger
Constitutional Court of Niger
Supreme Court of Niger
Nigeria
Supreme Court of Nigeria
Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation
no term limit
70
21
North Korea
Supreme Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [a] [4]
North Macedonia
Constitutional Court of North Macedonia
Supreme Court of North Macedonia
Norway
Supreme Court of Norway
20
Oman
Supreme Court of Oman [a]
Pakistan
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Federal Shariat Court
Palau
Supreme Court of Palau
Panama
Supreme Court of Justice
Papua New Guinea
Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
10 year term, renewable
Paraguay
Supreme Court of Justice
Peru
Constitutional Court of Peru
Supreme Court of Peru
Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Presidential appointment from the shortlist of candidates submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council
70
15
Poland
Constitutional Tribunal [1]
Supreme Court of Poland
Supreme Administrative Court [5]
Portugal
Constitutional Court of Portugal
Supreme Court of Justice
Qatar
Court of Cassation of Qatar [a]
Romania
Constitutional Court of Romania
9
9
High Court of Cassation and Justice
Russia
Constitutional Court of Russia
Appointment by Federation Council with nomination by President of Russia
-
70 (76 for the Deputy President and none for the President )
11 (including the President and the Deputy President)
Supreme Court of Russia
Appointment by Federation Council with nomination by President of Russia based on the proposal by Prime Minister of Russia
-
70 (76 for the Deputy Chief Justices and none for the Chief Justice )
170
Rwanda
Supreme Court of Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Saint Lucia
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Caribbean Court of Justice (see below )
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Samoa
Court of Appeal of Samoa
Supreme Court of Samoa
San Marino
Council of Twelve
São Tomé and Príncipe
Supreme Court of Justice
Saudi Arabia
Supreme Judicial Council
Senegal
Constitutional Council
Court of Cassation
Serbia
Constitutional Court of Serbia
Parliament selection (5 members)
Supreme Court of Cassation selection (5 members)
Presidential selection (5 members)
9
15
Supreme Court of Cassation
Seychelles
Supreme Court of Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Supreme Court of Sierra Leone
Singapore
Supreme Court of Singapore [a]
Executive selection
65
Slovakia
Constitutional Court of Slovakia
Supreme Court of Slovakia
Supreme Administrative Court of Slovakia
Slovenia
Constitutional Court of Slovenia
Supreme Court of Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands
Somalia
Constitutional Court
Federal High Court
South Africa
Constitutional Court of South Africa
Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
South Korea
Constitutional Court of Korea
Appointed by President upon nomination of equal portions from National Assembly , Supreme Court Chief Justice and the President
6 years, renewable
70
9
Supreme Court of Korea
Appointed by President with consent of National Assembly
(for associate Justices, nomination of Chief Justice is additionally required)
6 years, renewable
70
14
South Sudan
Supreme Court of South Sudan
Spain
Constitutional Court of Spain
Appointed by the King after being nominated by the Parliament , the General Council of the Judiciary and the Government .
9
12
Supreme Court of Spain
Appointed by Monarch on selection by the General Council of the Judiciary
70
79
Sri Lanka
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Sudan
Supreme Court of Sudan [a]
Suriname
High Court of Justice of Suriname
Sweden
Supreme Court of Sweden
Government -appointed with parliamentary notification
Life tenure
67
16
Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden
Switzerland
Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
Syria
Supreme Constitutional Court of Syria
Court of Cassation
Tajikistan
Supreme Court of Tajikistan [a]
Tanzania
Court of Appeal of Tanzania
Thailand
Supreme Court of Thailand
Togo
Supreme Court of Togo
Tonga
Court of Appeal of Tonga
Privy Council of Tonga (hereditary estates and titles)
Trinidad and Tobago
Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago [6]
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Tunisia
Constitutional Court
Court of Cassation [a]
Turkey
Constitutional Court of Turkey
Legislative/Executive appointment
12
65
15
Court of Cassation
Council of Judges and Prosecutors
12
65
380
Council of State
Council of Judges and Prosecutors
12
65
115
Court of Jurisdictional Disputes
Appointed by other supreme courts
4
65
13
Turkmenistan
Supreme Court of Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Court of Appeal of Tuvalu
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see below )
Uganda
Constitutional Court of Uganda
Supreme Court of Uganda
Ukraine
Constitutional Court of Ukraine
Presidential, Parliamentary and Congress of Judges nomination
9
65
18
Supreme Court of Ukraine
Presidential-parliamentary appointment
5-year term, renewable
48
United Arab Emirates
Federal Supreme Court
Presidential appointment
20
United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister , following approval of a recommendation by the Lord Chancellor
12
* Scotland High Court of Justiciary (Scotland –Criminal Appeals concerning violations of the Human Rights Act 1998 may be heard in the Supreme Court alongside civil cases)
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
United States
Supreme Court of the United States
Presidential nomination with Senate confirmation
Life tenure
9
Uruguay
Supreme Court of Uruguay
Appointed by the General Assembly by two thirds of the votes.
10
5
Uzbekistan
Supreme Court of Uzbekistan
Constitutional Court of Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Supreme Court of Vanuatu
Vatican City /Holy See
Supreme Court of Vatican City
3
Venezuela
Supreme Tribunal of Justice
Vietnam
Supreme People's Court of Vietnam [a]
Yemen
Supreme Court of Yemen [a]
Zambia
Constitutional Court of Zambia
Supreme Court of Zambia
Zimbabwe
Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe
Supreme Court of Zimbabwe