1. Supreme Court In a flash

2. Justices of the Court

3. Supreme Court Justices Composed of 9 justices – Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices Duties have developed from laws/tradition /as needs of nation have developed 3 decision making tasks – Deciding which cases to hear – Deciding the case itself – Determining court’s opinion

4. Appointing Justices Appointed by president and approved by Senate Political considerations often influence president’s choice

5. Appointing Justices Cont. Background of Justices – Usually has law degree/legal experience – Most have been state/federal court judges – Not representative of general population in social class/background/gender/race

6. ROAD TO THE SUPREME COURT

7. Court Procedures During the term the Court sits for 2 consecutive weeks each month. Sessions begin 1 st Monday in October through July/June

8. Court’s Procedures After 2 week sitting they recess – Work privately on paperwork – Consider arguments – Study petitions – Work on opinion

9. HOW A CASE REACHES THE COURTS

10. Step 1 Writ of Certiorari – Order from the Court to a lower court to send up the records on a case for review – Main route to the Supreme Court On Appeal – Decision of a lower federal/state court has been requested to be reviewed – Few cases arrive this way

11. Step 2 Selecting Cases – Identify cases worthy of serious consideration – Put on ‘discuss list’ – “rule of four”- at least four justices need to agree to hear a case in order it to come before the Supreme Court

12. HEARING AND DECIDING A CASE

13. Step 1 Submitting Briefs – Written statement setting forth legal arguments Oral Argument – Lawyer from each side presents oral argument before court for 30 minutes each

14. Step 2 Conference – Justices meet to discuss/debate cases have heard

15. Step 3 Writing Opinion (written decision of the Court) – Majority Opinion-Courts official decision and reasoning – Concurring opinion -written by a justice who agrees w/ the majority decision but wants to emphasize a point not made by the majority – Dissenting opinion- written by a justice who disagrees w/ majority decision

16. WHAT SHAPES SUPREME COURTS DECISIONS

17. Items that Shape Supreme Court decisions Judicial Review Interpreting the Meaning of Laws Overruling or Reversing its Previous Decision Checks and Balances Lack of Enforcement Power