THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

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THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT

• The Supreme Court is the highest court in the
  land and the only court mentioned in the U.S.
  Constitution.

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The Old Supreme Court Chamber, where the Court
sat from 1810-1860.
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The Old Senate Chamber, where the Court sat from
1860-1935
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The Great Hall
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Court Room
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Conference Room
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Judicial Review

• Marbury v. Madison First time a law declared
  unconstitutional
• Established Judicial Review
• The Court did not declare another law
• unconstitutional for the next 50 years (the
  Dred Scott decision).
• They do not abuse the power of judicial review.

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Jurisdiction

• The Supreme Court has both original and appellate
  jurisdiction.
• Most cases heard by the Supreme Court are appeals
  cases.
• Original Jurisdiction in cases
• Involving ambassadors
• Cases involving state vs. state

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Justices

• Nine Justices are appointed by the President and
  approved by the Senate.
• The ability of the executive branch to choose the
  justices is considered the most important
  influence over the court.
• Current Chief JusticeChief Justice John Roberts
• Appointed for life during good behavior
• May be impeached by the House and tried by the
  Senate.
• Justices owe no loyalty to a political party.

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CHECKS BALANCES

• Congress controls the size and number of the
  courts in the federal system.
• Congress can regulate jurisdiction except in
  Supreme Court original jurisdiction.
• Congress establishes judicial salaries
• Court declares laws passed by congress
  unconstitutional/interprets the law

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Road to the Supreme Court

• 7,000 cases are sent to the Supreme Court every
  year. The court hears only 120-150.
• Rule of 4 four out of nine justices must agree
  to hear a case.
• Writ of Certiorari an order to a lower court to
  send case notes to the Supreme Court.
• Supreme Court decisions are called Opinions.
  These are written decisions that set a Precedent.
• A Precedent is a standard set by the court that
  is followed in subsequent cases.

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DECISIONS

• Unanimous Opinion All 9 Justices agree.
• Majority Opinion Opinion of at least 5 of the
  Justices.
• Concurring Opinion Justices agree but for a
  different reason.
• Dissenting Opinion Disagrees with the majority
  and wants written proof why they disagree.
• A coalition of justices is called a voting bloc.

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Judicial Restraint

• The doctrine that holds that the Supreme Court
  should rarely use its power of judicial review or
  otherwise intervene in the political process.
• Usually associated with conservative judges.

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Judicial activism

• A doctrine that advocates an active role for the
  Supreme Court in enforcing the Constitution and
  in using judicial review. An activist court
  takes a broad view of the Constitution and
  involves itself in legislative and executive
  matters
• Usually associated with liberal judges.

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Qualifications

• Article 3 of the Constitution.
• NO FORMAL Qualifications.
• Informal qualifications
• Educated in the law
• Older and Wiser
• Experienced in a lower court.
• Salary 202,000 Chief
• 194,200 Associate Justices

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Enforcement

• After the Supreme Court rules the Executive
  Branch enforces those decisions.

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DECISIONS

• All Supreme Court decisions are final!!!!

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• Supreme Court Facts
• Youngest justice appointed Joseph Story (age 32)
  
• Oldest justice appointed Horace Lurton (age 65)
• Oldest justice to serve Oliver Wendell Holmes
  (retired at age 90)
• Shortest term as chief justice John Rutledge (4
  months, 3 days chief justice)
• Shortest time in the court Thomas Johnson (5
  months, 10 days associate justice)
• Longest term William O. Douglas (36 years, 209
  days)
• First Catholic justice Roger B. Taney
• First Jewish justice Louis Brandeis
• First African-American justice Thurgood Marshall
  
• First woman justice Sandra Day O'Connor
• President to appoint the most justices George
  Washington (11)
• President to appoint the most justices in the
  20th century Franklin Roosevelt (9)