1. The Supreme Court

3. Work of the Federal Courts Remember: 97% of cases are handled by state courts Federal Court Jurisdiction – Federal Question Federal statute or regulation U.S. Constitution – Diversity Jurisdiction

4. Supreme Court Article III Appointment Life Tenure Composition – Associate Justices – Chief Justice – Law Clerks

5. Current Court

6. John Roberts (CJ)G.W. Bush200552 John Paul StevensFord197586 Antonin ScaliaReagan198671 Anthony KennedyReagan198870 David SouterG.H.W. Bush199067 Clarence ThomasG.H.W. Bush199158 Ruth Bader GinsburgClinton199374 Steven BreyerClinton199468 Samuel AlitoG.W. Bush200656

7. Supreme Court’s Work First Monday in October – June/July Original Jurisdiction v. Appellate Jurisdiction Cert Petitions “Rule of Four”

8. Certiorari Petitions TermAll FilingsIFP Filings Cases Argued 20047496575587 20058521684687

9. Deciding on the Merits Information – Litigant Briefs – “Record” – Amicus Briefs – Oral Argument 30 minutes per side Conference Votes

10. Opinions Opinion of the Court – Majority – Plurality Dissenting Opinions Concurring Opinions

11. Opinions Describe History of Case Describe “Precedent” – Stare decisis – Reason by analogy Holding – Becomes precedent – Weight depends on majority v. plurality

12. What Matters Not Just Who Wins / Who Loses REASONING