How long do US Supreme Court justices work each year?

Between official Court recesses, paid holidays and vacation time, the individual justices work approximately ten months of the year.

The US Supreme Court Term is 365 days, beginning on the first Monday in October and ending the first Monday in October of the following year. They typically hear oral arguments from October through the end of April (although they sometimes schedule "pre-Term" arguments for September), then finalize written opinions and conduct other administrative work from the beginning of May until late June or early July, when the Court rises for summer recess.

With the exception of time off for vacations and holidays, the justices continue working year-round. After the business of the Court has concluded for the Term, the justices and their law clerks continue reviewing petitions for writs of certiorari for the upcoming Term.

For more information, see Related Questions, below.