Do SCOTUS Justices have to be American Citizens?

[dubeskin]

We were discussing possible appointments and requirements or "recommendations" for nominees, and I brought up that I don't think there are any. So we started throwing around some oddball names, and then we started to wonder; can a foreign-born or non-American citizen be seated? For all intensive purposes, assume they are highly qualified for the position and not simply a random person from another country or just some naturalized "Joe the Plumber."

[BlooInBloo]

1. To the best of my knowledge, being nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...

are the only requirements.

[rurallib]

2. Well I believe they could be born in Hawaii.

Actually I do not think so. Good luck trying to get that one confirmed though.

[MineralMan]

7. But not in Puerto Rico.

[tritsofme]

3. This is all the Constitution says of it:

Article III Section 1

...The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

[Historic NY]

4. They don't even have to be a lawyer or a judge.

[northzax]

5. I would think that, yes.

While the Constitution doesn't care, I bet federal law does, if only for the pay system. I would also seriously doubt that you could find a person with the requisite knowledge of us law and legal custom who isn't a citizen.

[jellen]

6. intensive purposes

That isn't intensive purposes, it's intents and purposes.