Supreme Court of the United States
The United States Supreme Court, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States to interpret and decide questions of federal law. It is head of the Judicial branch of the United States Government. The other two branches of the United States Government are the Executive branch and the Legislative branch.
Currently nine justices are appointed for life by the President of the United States and confirmed by majority vote by the Senate. One of these nine serves as Chief Justice; the remaining members are designated Associate Justices.
The United States Supreme Court has had a fascinating history that is richly intertwined with U.S. history. The Supreme Court is the only court required by the United States Constitution. All other federal courts could legally be eliminated by Congress, although the likelihood of this happening is minuscule. Congress also determines the number of justices on the Court. Although it has been set at nine for many years, it has been smaller in the past. Franklin Roosevelt tried to increase the size of the Court so he could appoint justices who would support the constitutionality of his New Deal programs, but even though much of the country approved of the New Deal, they did not approve of his attempts to "pack the court," and the plan failed.
John Marshall was Chief Justice during Andrew Jackson's term of office. His court found the policy of Indian Removal to be unconstitutional, but Jackson replied: "John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it." Jackson was later responsible for Indian Removal and thus The Trail of Tears, in an unconstitutional defiance of a Supreme Court ruling.
While the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in a few cases such as suits between states, most of its work consists of reviewing cases from state supreme courts or from lower federal courts, sometimes by direct appeal, but most often by petition for Writ of Certiorari. As with all federal courts, the jurisdiction of the court is limited in terms of who may be brought before the court (personal jurisdiction), and what claims may be made (subject-matter jurisdiction). Thus, for example, cases that arise from the state supreme courts may only be heard by the United States Supreme Court if they present an issue of federal law. Where the state case was decided on an independent and adequate state ground, the Supreme Court will not hear it.
The current United States Supreme Court building was designed by architect Cass Gilbert.
The current United States Supreme Court Justices are: Chief Justice William Rehnquist (appointed by Nixon and elevated by Reagan), and Justices Stephen Breyer (appointed by Clinton), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (appointed by Clinton), Anthony Kennedy (appointed by Reagan), Sandra Day O'Connor (appointed by Reagan), Antonin Scalia (appointed by Reagan), David Souter (appointed by Bush), John Paul Stevens (appointed by Ford), and Clarence Thomas (appointed by Bush).
The Supreme Court was involved in a highly controversial 5-4 decision which determined the U.S. presidential election, 2000.
Notable decisions:
Notable statements:
See also:
External links
- For biographies of the Justices, please visit the website of Professor Michael S. Ariens of Saint Mary's University School of Law