The Supreme Court

1
The Supreme Court

• S.C. Supreme Court

2
Supreme Court Justices

• Nine Justices
• 1 Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices
• Originally only had 5
• Salary
• 217,400 for Chief Justice
• 208,100 for Associate Justices
• Serve for Life
• Can be impeached

John Roberts- Chief Justice
3
Becoming a Supreme Court Justice

• Constitutional Requirements
• NONE
• Appointed by President
• Confirmed by Senate
• Most appointments are confirmed
• 1988 Robert Bork nominated by Reagan but not
  confirmed

4
How do you get a case heard?

• You file for certiorari or asking for review
• If the S.C. wants to hear your case, they write a
  Writ of Certiorari saying that they will hear
  it and asking for all documents related to the
  case
• EXAMPLE

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Steps of a S.C. case

• File for Certiorari
• Writ of Certiorari given
• Submit papers and briefs
• S.C. reviews everything
• Oral arguments
• S.C. has a conference and votes
• One justice writes the majority opinion
• Any other justice may write a supporting or
  dissenting opinion
• Ruling is given

6
If the S.C. is hearing a case, who may file
papers?

• Anyone
• Both parties can give the court just about
  anything
• Third parties file an Amicus Curiae or friend
  of the court brief.

7
What exactly can the S.C. look at?

• Judicial Review
• Examining laws and actions of governments
• Interpretation of Laws
• Declaring them unconstitutional
• Explaining what they mean
• Reviewing other courts decisions
• Overturning if unconstitutional
• Upholding if correct

8
Current Supreme Court(Age when appointed/Year
Appointed)

• John Roberts (50/2005) Chief Justice
• Samuel Alito (55/2006)
• Antonin Scalia (50/1986)
• Anthony Kennedy (52/1988)
• Clarence Thomas (43/1991)
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• (60/1993)
• Stephen Breyer (56/1994)
• Sonia Sotomayor (55/2009)
• Elena Kagan (50/2010)
• Do they agree?