Law clerks have assisted the Supreme Court Justices in various capacities, since the first one was hired by Justice Horace Gray in 1882. By the traditions and rules that have developed around this procedure today the eight Associate Justices on the Supreme Court of the United States have the opportunity to select four law clerks each term of the court. The Chief Justice is allowed five clerks, but often hires fewer. After retiring from the Court, a justice may continue to employ a law clerk, who may be assigned to provide additional assistance to an active justice, or assist the retired justice when sitting by designation with a lower court.