13.4 The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, America's highest judicial body, wields immense power in shaping laws and society. With nine lifetime-appointed justices, it interprets the Constitution, resolves disputes between states, and can strike down laws deemed unconstitutional.

Cases reach the Court through a selective process, with justices choosing cases based on their significance and potential impact. The Court's decisions, from ending school segregation to legalizing same-sex marriage, have profoundly influenced American life and continue to shape the nation's legal landscape.

The Supreme Court

Composition and functions of Supreme Court

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• Nine justices serve on the Supreme Court, including one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices
• President nominates justices, and the Senate confirms them through a hearing and vote process
• Justices receive lifetime appointments to help ensure judicial independence from political pressures
• Serves as the highest court in the federal judiciary, having the final say on legal matters
• Holds the power of judicial review, allowing it to strike down laws and executive actions deemed unconstitutional (Marbury v. Madison)
• Interprets the meaning and application of the Constitution and federal laws
• Resolves legal disputes between states, such as boundary or water rights issues
• Hears appeals from lower federal courts and state courts on cases involving federal questions or constitutional issues

Supreme Court case selection process

• Most cases reach the Supreme Court through a petition for a writ of certiorari, a request for the Court to review a lower court's decision
• Justices use the "Rule of Four," requiring at least four justices to agree to hear a case before granting certiorari
• Justices consider several factors when deciding to grant certiorari:
  • Conflicting decisions among lower courts on the same legal issue
  • Significance and broad impact of the legal question presented
  • Constitutionality of a law or government action being challenged
• Once a case is accepted, the Court follows a decision-making process:
  1. Oral arguments: Attorneys for each side present their case and answer questions from the justices
  • Interested parties may submit amicus curiae ("friend of the court") briefs to provide additional perspectives
  1. Conference: Justices privately discuss the case and take an initial vote on the outcome
  2. Opinion writing: The Chief Justice assigns the majority opinion if in the majority; otherwise, the most senior justice in the majority assigns it
  • Majority opinion announces the Court's decision and explains its reasoning
  • Concurring opinions written by justices who agree with the majority's conclusion but have different reasons
  • Dissenting opinions express disagreement with the majority's decision and rationale

Impact of Supreme Court decisions

• Landmark cases have significantly shaped American law and society:
  • Brown v. Board of Education ended racial segregation in public schools
  • Roe v. Wade recognized a constitutional right to privacy and legalized abortion
  • Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
• Supreme Court plays a crucial role in interpreting the Constitution to protect individual rights and liberties (freedom of speech, due process)
• Court adapts the law to changing social, economic, and political conditions over time
• Resolves controversial issues and provides legal guidance to lower courts for consistent application of the law
• Justices' personal biases and ideologies can influence decisions, leading to concerns about judicial objectivity
• Court decisions can be overturned by constitutional amendments or future Court rulings, demonstrating the evolving nature of legal interpretation
• Debate persists over judicial activism vs. judicial restraint, questioning the appropriate scope of the Court's power in shaping policy

Legal Principles and Interpretation

• Jurisdiction: The Court's authority to hear and decide cases, which includes original jurisdiction for certain types of cases and appellate jurisdiction for others
• Precedent: Prior court decisions that guide future rulings on similar issues
• Constitutional interpretation: The process by which the Court determines the meaning and application of the Constitution to specific cases
• Stare decisis: The principle of adhering to precedent in making legal decisions, which promotes consistency and stability in the law