Focuses exclusively on the Supreme Court and its role in the justice system.
Discusses the structure and orientation of the Supreme Court towards American politics.
Symbolic Representation: Lady Justice
Blindfold: Represents that justice should be objective, neutral, and fair.
Scales: Decisions based on evidence and facts, not on biases like race, wealth, or gender.
Supreme Court Structure
Justices serve for life to maintain objectivity and neutrality.
Cannot be removed by the President or Congress except through impeachment.
Promotes decisions based on evidence, fairness, and non-discrimination.
Constitution and Inferior Courts
Constitution mentions other courts as 'inferior' to emphasize the Supreme Court as the highest law of the land.
Supreme Court is the final arbiter with no higher authority.
Role: Interpret the law; significant power through judicial review.
Judicial Review
Definition: Power to invalidate laws and actions by other branches and levels of government.
Significance: Embeds the Supreme Court with extreme authority to declare actions legal or illegal.
Notable Cases
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Ended racial segregation in public education; overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Established 'separate but equal,' legalizing racial segregation.
Impacted subsequent civil rights movements and legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
State vs. Federal Court Systems
Both systems terminate at the U.S. Supreme Court as the highest court.
Federal District Courts are trial courts; appellate levels involve judges, not juries.
Current Supreme Court Composition
9 justices; the most diverse in U.S. history in terms of race and gender but not educational or professional backgrounds.
Diversity: 2 African American justices, 3 of the 4 women ever are serving now.
Educational Background: Mostly Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, etc.).
Qualifications & Appointment
No specific qualifications for Supreme Court justices in the Constitution.
Justices appointed by the President and approved by the Senate as a check.
Checks ensure quality control over who serves on the bench.
Partisanship and Public Perception
Supreme Court viewed as partisan, lowering public approval.
Independence of the court impacted by perceived political leanings.
Example: Blocking of Merrick Garland, a moderate liberal nominee by President Obama, and subsequent nomination of conservative justices by President Trump.
Recent Controversies
Antonin Scalia’s Death (2016): Led to a partisan battle over his replacement.
Merrick Garland: Obama's nominee blocked by Senate Republicans for 11 months.
Neil Gorsuch: Replaced Scalia under President Trump, maintaining conservative balance.
Brett Kavanaugh: Replaced moderate Justice Kennedy, shifting the court to a solid conservative majority.
Ideological Shifts Over Time
Warren Court: Mostly liberal era (1954-1968).
Burger to Roberts Courts: Gradual increase in conservative justices.
Current: 6 conservatives vs. 3 liberals post-appointment of Amy Coney Barrett.
Chief Justice John Roberts might serve as a moderating influence.
Final Points
Independence of justices unique due to lifetime appointments.
Senate Republicans’ strategies have heavily influenced the current ideological makeup of the court.
Perspective on 'power': Utilized to shape the judicial landscape significantly.