The United States Supreme Court

“The Court of Last Resort”

Article III of the Constitution

• 1 Supreme Court

• Life Tenure

• No Decrease in Salary

• Nominated by the President and Confirmed by the Senate

• Impeachable by Congress

Life Tenure

What can influence a Supreme Court Justice?

Legal Influences

A.Constraints of the Facts They can only respond to the facts of the case

B. Constraints of the LawMust determine which laws are relevant

Political Influences

A.Outside InfluencesForces of public opinion+

B. Inside InfluencesPersonal beliefs and political attitudes

Article III section 2

Original Jurisdiction

“Conducts Trials”

–Disputes between states

–Cases dealing with Ambassadors + Diplomats

Appellate Jurisdiction

Judiciary Act of 1789

Appellate Jurisdiction“Reviews Earlier Decisions”

Has the authority to review cases from the lower courts. (Uphold or overturn)

-Constitutional Issues

-Great Social Impact

Brown v. Board of Education

Judiciary Act of 1789

Est. Lower Court Structure

(1) U.S. Supreme Court

(13) Circuits or Court of Appeals

(94) District Courts (Trial Courts)

9 Supreme Court Justices

• 1 Chief and 8 Associates

Justices

• Chief: John Roberts (Conservative)John Paul Stevens (Liberal) (Elena Kagan)Antonin Scalia (Conservative)Anthony Kennedy (Centrist)Sonia Sotomayor (Liberal)Clarence Thomas (Conservative)Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Liberal)

Stephen Beyer (Centrist)Samuel Alito (Conservative)

Case Loads

District Courts 550 Judges 267,000 Cases

Court of Appeals158 Judges 41,000 cases

Supreme Court 9 Judges 4,500 case

(200 Decisions) 1990 statistics

John Marshallhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TVkeRUvX_U