Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court are the members of that court other than the Chief Justice. Their number, determined by an act of Congress, is currently eight. See past Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Associate Justices are nominated for service by the President of the United States. Their nominations are then referred to the United States Senate for confirmation. If confirmed then, like other federal judges they serve for life and can only be removed by resignation or impeachment.
Each of the Justices of the Supreme Court has a single vote in deciding the cases argued before it; the Chief Justice has no more authority than any other Justice. The difference is that the Chief Justice has certain administrative responsibilities that the other Justices do not, and is paid slightly more.
By tradition, when the Justices are in conference deliberating the outcome of cases before the Court, if there is a knock at the conference room door, the most junior Associate Justice must answer the door.
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