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 | | | | |
Palestine | Supreme Constitutional Court | | | | |
Supreme Court of Palestine | | | | |
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) Presidential selection (5 members) Supreme Court selection (5 memb.) | 9 | 65 | 15 |
Supreme Court of Serbia | Elected by the High Magistrate Council | life tenure | 65 | 50 |
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 | | 75 | 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) | Appointment by the Monarch on recommendation of the First Minister of Scotland who receive a recommendation from the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland | | 75 | 36 |
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 | | | | |