Significance of the U.S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body on Earth, having nine justices: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Every outcome in a Supreme Court case is based on the 200-year-old Constitution and is able to rule any case as unconstitutional or not with the power resting on public faith. The justices solve national problems and is deliberate about reaching their decisions in private.

Image retrieved from the Washington Post.

The Court receives about 7,000 cases a year, but only about 100 of them get accepted. Most of the cases are submitted as a writ of certiorari, a file that is asking the Court permission to overlook the case. Each case is heard in the public, with lawyers on each side of the case given 30 minutes to make their arguments before the Court. Every justice can ask questions during the oral argument, acting like a conversation. Arguing before nine justices is difficult because each one has their own ideas. The lawyer has to find a way to present their ideas to appeal to nine different people, who most likely have different perspectives on most topics. 

Once the argument is presented before the Court, the justices gather in a conference room to vote on the case. If the justices decide to take the case, one of the justices on the majority side has to write an opinion explaining the legal reasons for the decision. Other than the majority opinion, any justice can write a separate opinion, either dissenting or concurring with the result. All of the opinion drafts are sent to all nine justices and revised for up to months at a time. Eventually, the revised opinions are sent to the press to notify the public of the action that has taken place. 

Overall, the Supreme Court plays a very significant role in the judicial system today. The workings of the Court have impacted history and will remain essential for the justice system in the future.


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