the following tables detail the succession of justices of the supreme court of the united states by seat. there are no formal numbers or names for the individual seats of associate justices, which are listed in this article simply by number, as well as by the date each was established by congress. the numbering of associate justice seats 1–4 reflects the order of precedence of the inaugural justices to occupy those seats, which was based upon the seniority of their commission from president george washington following their confirmation by the u.s. senate. the fifth original associate justice seat, and the simultaneously created seventh and eighth seats, are numbered according to the order in which each seat's first occupant received their commission from the president following senate confirmation. seats six, nine, and 10 are numbered according to the order in which each was created by statute. the "start date" listed for each justice is the day he or she took the judicial oath of office, and the "end date" is the date of the justice's death, resignation, or retirement.