The U.S. Supreme Court
If one were to imagine the U.S. Judicial System as a pyramid the very top would be the Supreme Court. The court ensures uniformity in the interpretation of laws, resolves conflicts between states, and maintains national supremacy in law.
The supreme court It is made up of nine justices (one chief justice and eight associate justices). They are appointed by the President and must be confirmed by congress. All nine sit together and hear cases and then make decisions.
Just getting to the point where a case is heard in the Supreme court is very difficult though. First a case must pass through the District Courts and the Appeals Courts. Then the case is submitted to the Supreme court, one of about 8,000 submissions every year. Very few of these are actually chosen to be heard by the justices. Most of the cases that are heard in the Supreme court are civil actions from lower courts that have been appealed up to the Supreme court.
During most cases attorneys from each side are allowed only thirty minutes of speaking time. The judges are expected to have a good knowledge of the case already from the briefs that are received from either involved party as well as the briefs that are received from outside interest groups. After hearing a case the justices discuss and debate the case that has been presented. After a vote has been made on the case an opinion, a statement of legal reasoning behind a judicial decision, must be written. These statements are important because they impact how future laws and cases will be decided.
At least six justices must be present to take a final vote on a case, decisions are made by a majority vote. If there is a tie the decision that was made in the lower court stands.
The supreme court It is made up of nine justices (one chief justice and eight associate justices). They are appointed by the President and must be confirmed by congress. All nine sit together and hear cases and then make decisions.
Just getting to the point where a case is heard in the Supreme court is very difficult though. First a case must pass through the District Courts and the Appeals Courts. Then the case is submitted to the Supreme court, one of about 8,000 submissions every year. Very few of these are actually chosen to be heard by the justices. Most of the cases that are heard in the Supreme court are civil actions from lower courts that have been appealed up to the Supreme court.
During most cases attorneys from each side are allowed only thirty minutes of speaking time. The judges are expected to have a good knowledge of the case already from the briefs that are received from either involved party as well as the briefs that are received from outside interest groups. After hearing a case the justices discuss and debate the case that has been presented. After a vote has been made on the case an opinion, a statement of legal reasoning behind a judicial decision, must be written. These statements are important because they impact how future laws and cases will be decided.
At least six justices must be present to take a final vote on a case, decisions are made by a majority vote. If there is a tie the decision that was made in the lower court stands.