The Supreme Court Chapter 11 Section 3

Supreme Court Justices The Supreme Court is comprised of nine justices: the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices. The Supreme Court’s duty involves them in three decision-making tasks: –deciding which cases to hear from among the thousands appealed to the Court each year; –deciding the case itself; and

Section 3 –determining an explanation for the decision, called the Court’s opinion.opinion The chief justice’s duties include: –presiding over sessions and conferences at which the justices discuss cases; –assigning the writing of the Court’s opinion to one of the justices who voted for the ruling; and Supreme Court Justices (cont.)

Section 3 –helping administer the federal court system. The Court’s law clerks assist the justices with many tasks, enabling the justices to concentrate on their pressing duties. Supreme Court Justices (cont.)

Section 3 Supreme Court Jurisdiction Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution addresses two types of cases in which the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction: –cases involving representatives of foreign governments and –certain cases in which a state is a party.

Section 3 The Supreme Court can also hear cases appealed from the highest court of a state if claims under federal law or the Constitution are involved. Supreme Court Jurisdiction (cont.)

Section 3 Appointing Justices Justices reach the Court through appointment by the president with Senate approval. Political considerations often affect a president’s choice of a nominee to the Court. Presidents prefer to nominate a candidate whose political beliefs are similar to their own.

Section 3 The American Bar Association evaluates the professional qualifications of candidates for all Article III judicial positions Appointing Justices (cont.)

Section 3 Members of the Supreme Court sometimes have considerable influence in the selection of new justices. As leaders of the Court, chief justices have often been very active in the selection process. Appointing Justices (cont.)