Judiciary Act of 1869

The Judiciary Act of 1869 (41st Congress, Sess. 1, ch. 22, 16 Stat.44, enacted April 10, 1869), formally An Act to amend the Judicial System of the United States and sometimes called the Circuit Judges Act of 1869, is a statute providing that the Supreme Court of the United States consists of the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices. It established separate judgeships for the U.S. circuit courts, and for the first time included a provision allowing federal judges to retire without losing their salary. It is as of 2026 the most recent legislation altering the size of the Supreme Court. The act was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.