Supreme Court Cases

-Highest Court in the Nation

-All Decisions are Final

-Usually Appellate Jurisdiction Only

-Only hears about 100-150 of thousands of appeals

Court’s Power

-Constitution is the Highest Law

-Constitution is the Supreme Law when there is a conflict with other laws

-Court is responsible for upholding the Constitution

-Judicial Review: Power toPower to REVIEW ANY FEDERAL OR REVIEW ANY FEDERAL OR STATE LAW TO SEE IF THE LAW STATE LAW TO SEE IF THE LAW IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSTITUTIONCONSTITUTION

-Limiting the Court’s Power

Supreme Court Justices-made up of 9 justices

-no official requirements

all have been lawyers

-appointed by the President w/ Senate approval

-appointed to a life term

-very important appointment process

THE SUPREME COURT THE SUPREME COURT 20072007

Seated L to R: Anthony Kennedy, John Paul Stevens, Chief Justice John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, and David Souter. Standing L to R: Stephen Breyer, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Samuel Alito Jr.

Court at Work

-In session from Oct to June/July each year

-Each month follows a pattern

-1st 2 weeks the court hears cases, make announcements, and discuss current cases

-2nd 2 weeks the justices are writing opinions, deciding what cases to hear, and researching cases

Which Cases?

-Justices discuss and must agree on the merits of a case for it to be heard

-Only hears certain kinds of cases

-Writ of Certiorari: Petition of Petition of appeal to the U.S. Supreme appeal to the U.S. Supreme CourtCourt

-Usually hears just appellate cases

Court Decisions-Justices discuss cases with each

other

-Make one of three decisions

Uphold

Overturn

Remand

-Each decision is accompanied with a written opinion explaining the law about the case

Majority Opinion

Concurrent Opinion

Dissenting Opinion