<P> Associate justices have seniority by order of appointment, although the chief justice is always considered to be the most senior . If two justices are appointed on the same day, the older is designated the senior justice of the two . Currently, the senior associate justice is Anthony Kennedy . By tradition, when the justices are in conference deliberating the outcome of cases before the Court, the justices state their views in order of seniority . The senior associate justice is also tasked with carrying out the chief justices's duties when he is unable to, or if that office is vacant . </P> <P> Currently, there are eight associate justices on the Court . The justices, ordered by seniority, are: </P> <Ul> <Li> <P> Anthony Kennedy (1936 - 07 - 23) July 23, 1936 (age 81) </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Clarence Thomas (1948 - 06 - 23) June 23, 1948 (age 69) </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 - 03 - 15) March 15, 1933 (age 84) </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Stephen Breyer (1938 - 08 - 15) August 15, 1938 (age 79) </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Samuel Alito (1950 - 04 - 01) April 1, 1950 (age 67) </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Sonia Sotomayor (1954 - 06 - 25) June 25, 1954 (age 63) </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Elena Kagan (1960 - 04 - 28) April 28, 1960 (age 57) </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Neil Gorsuch (1967 - 08 - 29) August 29, 1967 (age 50) </P> </Li> </Ul> <Li> <P> Anthony Kennedy (1936 - 07 - 23) July 23, 1936 (age 81) </P> </Li>

Who is the most recently appointed and confirmed associate justice of the u.s. supreme court
find me the text answering this question