1. REVIEW 1) What is jurisdiction? 2) Define concurrent jurisdiction.
3) Where do most of the Supreme Court’s cases come from?
4) Who was the first African American Supreme Court justice?
5) What two types of jurisdiction does the Supreme Court have?

2. Supreme Court Justices
Over 100 men and 4 women
Usually have a law degree and law experience
Usually are over 50, some have been younger
Most come from upper socioeconomic levels
Only two African Americans and 4 women

3. DIVERSITY
Since FDR, only 10 percent of judicial appointments have gone to candidates of the opposition party
Jimmy Carter brought increased diversity to the lower courts
Ronald Reagan appointed fewer minorities, but was the first to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court
Nearly 50 percent of Bill Clinton’s appointees were women and minorities
Roughly 32 percent of George W. Bush’s nominees have been women and minorities

5. The Court’s Procedures
Supreme Court’s term?
Oral arguments-when?
Decisions-when?
What happens between two weeks sittings?
About what % of cases are heard by the Supreme Court?
What is the Court’s main job?

6. HOW CASES REACH THE S.C. Writ of certiorari Who? Why?
Original jurisdiction
Writ of certiorari
Who?
Why?
What happens to most cases?
What happens when the writ is denied?
Appellate jurisdiction
-The court _______ most cases.
Selecting Cases
-Rule of four

8. STEPS IN DECIDING MAJOR CASES
Submitting briefs
-Amicus curiae-define/purpose of
Oral Arguments
-How long
The conference
-Purpose and length

9. WRITING THE OPINION
DEFINE
Unanimous
Majority
Concurring
Dissenting

10. LIMITS ON THE SUPREME COURT
Stare decisis/precedent
Flexibility of the court
Types of Issues
-Limits on types of cases
-Lack of enforcement power
Checks and Balances