Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

Basic Information…Basic Information…

9 JusticesNominated by PresidentApproved by SenateHold position for life or until retire

9 JusticesNominated by PresidentApproved by SenateHold position for life or until retire

Judicial Review…Judicial Review…Marbury v. Madison

Reviews Constitutionality of:State and federal legislationActions of chief executivesDecisions of other courts

Marbury v. Madison

Reviews Constitutionality of:State and federal legislationActions of chief executivesDecisions of other courts

Important Terms…Important Terms…Writ of Certiorari – formal document

from Supreme Court to lower court that calls up a case

Stare Decisis= “let the decision stand” = precedent

Remember:Majority OpinionConcurring OpinionDissenting Opinion

Writ of Certiorari – formal document from Supreme Court to lower court that calls up a case

Stare Decisis= “let the decision stand” = precedent

Remember:Majority OpinionConcurring OpinionDissenting Opinion

I will take this case all the way to the Supreme Court …I will take this case all the way to the Supreme Court …

“Rule of Four”Annual docket = 8,000 casesFewer than 100 heard or reviewed$300 filing feeIn forma pauperis (exempt from court

costs b/c poor) outnumber 3-1 Quorum = 6

“Rule of Four”Annual docket = 8,000 casesFewer than 100 heard or reviewed$300 filing feeIn forma pauperis (exempt from court

costs b/c poor) outnumber 3-1 Quorum = 6

Basic Biographical InformationBasic Biographical Information

Review the bios of the nine Supreme Court Justices

Try and determine if the Justice is conservative or liberal

Review the bios of the nine Supreme Court Justices

Try and determine if the Justice is conservative or liberal

Chief Justice John Roberts Chief Justice John Roberts Harvard LawLaw clerk for William RehnquistAssociate Counsel to ReaganU.S.Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Chief Justice by Pres.

Bush 2005 Born 1/27/55

Harvard LawLaw clerk for William RehnquistAssociate Counsel to ReaganU.S.Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Chief Justice by Pres.

Bush 2005 Born 1/27/55

Elena KaganElena KaganHarvard LawLaw clerk for Thurgood MarshallProfessor of Law at U. of Chicago Law

SchoolNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama in 2009Born 4/28/60

Harvard LawLaw clerk for Thurgood MarshallProfessor of Law at U. of Chicago Law

SchoolNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama in 2009Born 4/28/60

Sonia SotomayorSonia SotomayorPuerto Rican descentYale LawU.S. Court of Appeals Second CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama in 2009. Born 6/25/54

Puerto Rican descentYale LawU.S. Court of Appeals Second CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama in 2009. Born 6/25/54

Samuel AlitoSamuel AlitoYale LawU.S. Attorney New JerseyU.S. Court of Appeals for the Third

CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Bush 2006Born 4/1/50

Yale LawU.S. Attorney New JerseyU.S. Court of Appeals for the Third

CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Bush 2006Born 4/1/50

Stephen BreyerStephen BreyerHarvard LawAssistant Special Prosecutor of the

Watergate Special Prosecution ForceU.S. Court of Appeals First CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton 1994Born 8/15/38

Harvard LawAssistant Special Prosecutor of the

Watergate Special Prosecution ForceU.S. Court of Appeals First CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton 1994Born 8/15/38

Ruth Bader GinsbergRuth Bader GinsbergHarvard and Cornell Law SchoolProfessor at Rutgers, Columbia1971 - Launched the Women’s Rights

Project of the ACLUACLU General Counsel and Board of

DirectorsNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton in 1993Born 3/15/33

Harvard and Cornell Law SchoolProfessor at Rutgers, Columbia1971 - Launched the Women’s Rights

Project of the ACLUACLU General Counsel and Board of

DirectorsNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton in 1993Born 3/15/33

Clarence ThomasClarence ThomasYale LawAsst. Attorney General of Missouri Asst. Sec. for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of

Ed.Chairman EEO CommissionNominated Associate Justice by Pres. Bush

1991Born 6/23/48

Yale LawAsst. Attorney General of Missouri Asst. Sec. for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of

Ed.Chairman EEO CommissionNominated Associate Justice by Pres. Bush

1991Born 6/23/48

Anthony KennedyAnthony KennedyHarvard LawChaired the Committee on Pacific

TerritoriesU.S. Court of Appeals Ninth CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan 1988Born 7/23/36

Harvard LawChaired the Committee on Pacific

TerritoriesU.S. Court of Appeals Ninth CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan 1988Born 7/23/36

Antonin ScaliaAntonin ScaliaHarvard LawLaw Professor UVA, Georgetown,

StanfordU.S. Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan in 1986Born 3/11/36

Harvard LawLaw Professor UVA, Georgetown,

StanfordU.S. Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan in 1986Born 3/11/36

(nice.)

THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE DEATH CALCULATOR