1. Critical Thinking Question
Make a list of the most important qualities for a judge to have.

2. The Supreme Court
Unit 6

3. Constitutional Facts One of the 3 equal branches of government
Final say in Federal Law
Court chooses what cases it wants to hear
Members are nominated by the President
Approved by the Senate
9 total Supreme Court Justices

4. Supreme Court Jurisdiction
the extent or range of judicial, law enforcement, or other authority
the territory over which authority is exercised
The Supreme Court has two types of Jurisdiction
Original Jurisdiction
Cases involving foreign governments
Cases involving the State as a party
Disputes amongst states
NOT “Maryland vs. Smith”
Appellate Jurisdiction
Supreme court can choose to hear trials through the court of appeals
Constitution Violations
Interstate crimes

5. Critical Thinking Questions
In order for someone to be fair, must they make decisions that does not consider or include their own religious or political views?
Does religion or politics create biases?

6. Supreme Court Justice 9 Justices Congress sets the number
1 Chief Justice
8 Associate Justices
Congress sets the number
Has varied from 5 to 10
Benefits of Being a Justice
Chief: $181,400
Associates: $173,600
Constitutionally congress sets Justice salaries, however is not allowed to reduce justice salaries
Justices can be impeached
Only one has been impeached
None have ever been removed from office

7. Duties of a Justice
Duties of Justices have developed from Precedent – no constitutional duties
Main Duty: Hear and Rule on Cases
Deciding which cases to hear
Deciding on that case
Explaining their decision
Concurring Opinion – winning side
Dissenting Opinion – losing side
Other duties
Special legal actions of the 12 circuit courts
Each justice assigned to each court, 3 justices have 2
Special Workloads
Special prosecutors
Investigative committees

8. Law Clerks Assist Justices in their everyday duties
Write memos
Summarize court cases
Prepare opinions
Usually hire Graduates from Law Schools across the nation
Usually prestigious law schools
You could do this while in college!

9. Chief Justice John G. Roberts 1. Christoper DiPompeo (U. Penn. 2009) 2
Chief Justice John G. Roberts 1. Christoper DiPompeo (U. Penn. 2009) 2. Frederick Liu (Yale 2008) 3. Colleen Roh (Harvard 201) 4. Hagan Scotten (Harvard 2010)
Justice Antonin Scalia 1. Donald Burke (UVA 2008) 2. Rebecca Krauss (Yale 2010) 3. Carl Marchioli (Harvard 2010) 4. John Moran (UVA 2010)
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy 1. Ishan Bhabha (Harvard 2009) 2. Leah Litman (Michigan 2010) 3. Eric Nguyen (Harvard 2009) 4. Justin Walker (Harvard 2009)
Justice Clarence Thomas 1. Liam Hardy (Georgetown 2008) 2. Brian Lea (UGA 2009) 3. Matt Nicholson (UVA 2009) 4. Michelle Stratton (LSU 2009)
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 1. Rachel Wainer Apter (Harvard 2007) 2. Benjamin Beaton (Columbia 2009) 3. Jennifer Clark (Georgetown 2008) 4. Gerry Sinzdak (Berkeley 2008)
Justice Stephen G. Breyer 1. Rachel Bloomekatz (UCLA 2008) 2. Jonathan Bressler (Harvard 2010) 3. Andrew Dawson (Stanford 2008) 4. Rebecca Stone (NYU 2009)
Justice Samuel Alito 1. Sarah Campbell (Duke 2009) 2. Anthony Dick (Stanford 2010) 3. William Levi (Yale 2010) 4. Ryan Newman (U. Texas 2007)
Justice Sonia Sotomayor 1. Michael Bern (Harvard 2008) 2. Mark Hiller (UVA 2009) 3. Daniel Habib (Yale 2010) 4. Jane Kucera (Harvard 2008)
Justice Elena Kagan 1. Jeff Johnson (Harvard 2010) 2. Rakesh Kilaru (Stanford 2010) 3. Erica Ross (Stanford 2009) 4. Jonathan Schneller (Harvard 2010)

10. Background of Justices
108 men
4 women
2 African Americans
1 Hispanic American
Usually people with law degrees (not required)
Usually have been state judges
One has been a former President
Only 9 have been younger than 50 years old

11. Critical Thinking Question
Considering the background of former supreme court judges, do you think Presidents have always used good judgment in selecting supreme court justices?
STAND UP, HAND UP, SHARE

12. Today’s Court 9 Judges 3 women / 6 men 1 Hispanic American
1 African American
6 Catholics / 3 Jewish
8 graduated from private schools / ivy league