Supreme Court Top of the Judicial Branch in the Federal Government. Final say in all matters dealing with the United States Constitution.

Since the Senate is considered to be the higher body of the two houses that make up Congress, Senators have a de facto veto power over (all) judicial nominees, as they consent to any Presidential nomination. If the Senator who hails from the same state as the judicial nominee (and is from the President’s party) does not want the judge to be confirmed, he/she likely will not be supported by the Senate and the nomination will be defeated, so the President will not nominate him/her. Advise and Consent—A Check on the Presidency?

Today’s Court……

John Roberts Chief Justice Appointed by George W. Bush. Took his seat on High Court on 9/25/05. Graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law Born 1/27/55 Right leaning….

Antonin Scalia Associate Justice Appointed by Ronald Reagan. Took his seat on the High Court on 9/26/86. Graduate of Georgetown and Harvard Law. Born 3/11/36. He always questions both sides of the case thoroughly. RIGHT leaning….

Anthony Kennedy Associate Justice Appointed by Ronald Reagan. Took his seat on the High Court on 2/18/88. Graduated from Stanford and Harvard Law. Born 7/23/36. He was THE deciding vote in Bush v. Gore and reportedly was distraught throughout the decision-making process. Moderate….

Clarence Thomas Associate Justice Appointed by George HW Bush. Controversial Senate confirmation—scandal, interest groups provide opposition—NAACP, NOW Allegations were balanced with support Took his seat on the High Court on 10/23/91. Graduate of Holy Cross and Yale Law Born 6/23/48. VERY RIGHT leaning….

“This is not an opportunity to talk about difficult matters privately or in a closed environment. This is a circus. It's a national disgrace. And from my standpoint, as a black American, it is a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves, to do for themselves, to have different ideas, and it is a message that unless you kowtow to an old order, this is what will happen to you. You will be lynched, destroyed, caricatured by a committee of the U.S. Senate rather than hung from a tree.”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Associate Justice Appointed by William Clinton. Took her seat on the High Court on 8/10/93. Graduate of Cornell and Columbia Law. Born 3/15/33. LEFT leaning….

Stephen Breyer Associate Justice. Appointed by William Clinton. Took his seat on the High Court on 8/3/94 Graduate of Stanford and Harvard Law. Born 8/15/38. LEFT leaning….

Samuel Alito Associate Justice. Appointed By George W. Bush. Took his seat on the High Court on 1/31/06. He became the 2nd nomination by George W. Bush after he withdrew the nomination of Harriet Meirs. Graduate of Princeton and Yale Law. Born 4/1/50. Right leaning….

Sonia Sotomayor Born 1954—1 st Hispanic Justice—Nuyorican! Controversial Federal court nomination Blunt questions—”hot bench” judge 1 st Amendment—defended hate speech--Pappas v. Giuliani A centrist (45-50 discrimination cases dismissed) Now—6 out of 9 justices are Catholic

Justice Elena Kagan Appointed 2010—no prior experience as a judge (William Rehnquist too!) Plain talker (balance to Scalia) Interpretation must take into account political and policy questions Concern: the liberal Souter?

John Paul Stevens Associate Justice. Appointed by Gerald Ford. Took his seat on the High Court on 12/19/75. Graduate of U of Chicago and Northwestern Law. Born 4/20/20 Right leaning….

Former Justice David Souter Associate Justice Appointed by George HW Bush. Took his seat on the High Court on 10/9/90. Graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law Born 9/17/39. He’s seen by former President Bush as his “biggest mistake.” Left leaning….

Though you can see the Supreme Court live, there is no taping of hearings for the public to watch. Additionally, most of the Court’s work is behind closed doors