Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Basic Information…Basic Information…

9 JusticesNominated by PresidentApproved by SenateHold position for life or until retire

9 JusticesNominated by PresidentApproved by SenateHold position for life or until retire

Judicial Review…Judicial Review…

Created by the case: Marbury v. Madison

What is Judicial Review?Supreme Court Reviews the

“Constitutionality” of:State and federal legislationActions of chief executivesDecisions of other courts

Created by the case: Marbury v. Madison

What is Judicial Review?Supreme Court Reviews the

“Constitutionality” of:State and federal legislationActions of chief executivesDecisions of other courts

Important Terms…Important Terms…Writ of Certiorari (sur-shee-uh-rair-

ee)

Stare Decisis (stair-ee dee-sigh-sis) Precedent

Remember:Majority OpinionConcurring OpinionDissenting Opinion

Writ of Certiorari (sur-shee-uh-rair-ee)

Stare Decisis (stair-ee dee-sigh-sis) Precedent

Remember:Majority OpinionConcurring OpinionDissenting Opinion

The Road to SCOTUSThe Road to SCOTUS

US Court of Appeals and US District Courts US Court of Appeals and US District Courts

I will take this case all the way to the Supreme Court!!!!! I will take this case all the way to the Supreme Court!!!!! Annual docket = 8,000 petitionsCert PoolFewer than 100 heard or reviewedRule of FourStop and Think: What are possible

problems with the Cert Pool? Take 30 seconds

Discuss with table and be prepared to share. 3 min

Annual docket = 8,000 petitionsCert PoolFewer than 100 heard or reviewedRule of FourStop and Think: What are possible

problems with the Cert Pool? Take 30 seconds

Discuss with table and be prepared to share. 3 min

ContinuedContinuedPetitioner=lost in lowerRespondent=won in lowerEx: Miranda v. Arizona

Petitioner is Miranda, Arizona is the Respondent

Petitioner=lost in lowerRespondent=won in lowerEx: Miranda v. Arizona

Petitioner is Miranda, Arizona is the Respondent

Basic Biographical Information of the JusticesBasic Biographical Information of the JusticesReview the bios of the nine Supreme Court JusticesTry and determine if the Justice is conservative or

liberal

Conservative Block:

Liberal Block:

Swing Vote:

Review the bios of the nine Supreme Court JusticesTry and determine if the Justice is conservative or

liberal

Conservative Block:

Liberal Block:

Swing Vote:

Chief Justice John Roberts Chief Justice John Roberts Harvard gradLaw clerk for RehnquistAssociate Counsel to ReaganU.S.Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Chief Justice by Pres.

Bush 2005

Harvard gradLaw clerk for RehnquistAssociate Counsel to ReaganU.S.Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Chief Justice by Pres.

Bush 2005

Samuel AlitoSamuel AlitoYale LawU.S. Attorney New JerseyU.S. Court of Appeals for the Third

CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Bush 2006

Yale LawU.S. Attorney New JerseyU.S. Court of Appeals for the Third

CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Bush 2006

Stephen BreyerStephen BreyerHarvard LawAssistant Special Prosecutor of the

Watergate Special Prosecution ForceU.S. Court of Appeals First CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton 1994

Harvard LawAssistant Special Prosecutor of the

Watergate Special Prosecution ForceU.S. Court of Appeals First CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton 1994

Ruth Bader GinsbergRuth Bader GinsbergHarvard and Cornell Law SchoolProfessor at Rutgers, Columbia1971 - Launched the Women’s Rights

Project of the ACLUACLU General Counsel and Board of

DirectorsNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton in 1993

Harvard and Cornell Law SchoolProfessor at Rutgers, Columbia1971 - Launched the Women’s Rights

Project of the ACLUACLU General Counsel and Board of

DirectorsNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Clinton in 1993

Clarence ThomasClarence ThomasYale LawAsst. Attorney General of Missouri Asst. Sec. for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of

Ed.Chairman EEO CommissionNominated Associate Justice by Pres. Bush

1991

Yale LawAsst. Attorney General of Missouri Asst. Sec. for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of

Ed.Chairman EEO CommissionNominated Associate Justice by Pres. Bush

1991

Elana KaganElana KaganSumma cum laude from PrincetonHarvard LawLaw Clerk for Thurgood MarshallAssociate Counsel to President

Clinton Dean of Harvard Law SchoolNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama in 2010.

Summa cum laude from PrincetonHarvard LawLaw Clerk for Thurgood MarshallAssociate Counsel to President

Clinton Dean of Harvard Law SchoolNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama in 2010.

Anthony KennedyAnthony KennedyHarvard LawChaired the Committee on Pacific

TerritoriesU.S. Court of Appeals Ninth CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan 1988

Harvard LawChaired the Committee on Pacific

TerritoriesU.S. Court of Appeals Ninth CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan 1988

Antonin ScaliaAntonin ScaliaHarvard LawLaw Professor UVA, Georgetown,

StanfordU.S. Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan in 1986

Harvard LawLaw Professor UVA, Georgetown,

StanfordU.S. Court of Appeals for D.C.Nominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Reagan in 1986

Sonia SotamayorSonia SotamayorYale LawAssistant DA in NYU.S. Court of Appeals Second CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama 2009

Yale LawAssistant DA in NYU.S. Court of Appeals Second CircuitNominated Associate Justice by Pres.

Obama 2009

So..So..Conservative Block:

Liberal Block:

Swing Vote:Some stats: Since the October 2000 term, on average 22% of the

opinions issued in any given term are decided by a 5-4 vote, with an average of 70% of those opinions decided by a Court divided along the traditionally perceived ideological line.

Just 44% of Americans approve of SCOTUS, and 75% think they are influenced by their political or personal views.

Conservative Block:

Liberal Block:

Swing Vote:Some stats: Since the October 2000 term, on average 22% of the

opinions issued in any given term are decided by a 5-4 vote, with an average of 70% of those opinions decided by a Court divided along the traditionally perceived ideological line.

Just 44% of Americans approve of SCOTUS, and 75% think they are influenced by their political or personal views.

Liberal to Conservative SpectrumLiberal to Conservative Spectrum