Supreme Court of the United States: Difference between revisions
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==The Current Court== | ==The Current Court== | ||
The current Chief Justice is [[John Roberts|John G. Roberts, Jr.]], whom [[George W. Bush]] appointed in September 2005. Roberts is a Harvard-trained lawyer and former Associate Counsel to the President. | The current Chief Justice is [[John Roberts|John G. Roberts, Jr.]], whom [[George W. Bush]] appointed in September 2005. Roberts is a Harvard-trained lawyer and former Associate Counsel to the President. | ||
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* [[Anthony Kennedy]], a 1988 [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] appointee, is a conservative and libertarian member of the Court, often serving as the swing vote on controversial decisions. | * [[Anthony Kennedy]], a 1988 [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] appointee, is a conservative and libertarian member of the Court, often serving as the swing vote on controversial decisions. | ||
* [[Clarence Thomas]], a 1991 [[George H. W. Bush]] appointee, is the second African-American to serve on the Supreme Court after [[Thurgood Marshall]], and has a conservative judicial philosophy, adhering to [[originalism]]. | * [[Clarence Thomas]], a 1991 [[George H. W. Bush]] appointee, is the second African-American to serve on the Supreme Court after [[Thurgood Marshall]], and has a conservative judicial philosophy, adhering to [[originalism]]. | ||
* [[Stephen Breyer]], a 1994 [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] appointee, and the leading liberal Justice on | * [[Stephen Breyer]], a 1994 [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] appointee, and the leading liberal Justice on the court. | ||
* [[Samuel Alito]], a 2006 [[George W. Bush]] appointee, a conservative Catholic, nominated after Bush failed to nominate [[Harriet Miers]] to the court. | * [[Samuel Alito]], a 2006 [[George W. Bush]] appointee, a conservative Catholic, nominated after Bush failed to nominate [[Harriet Miers]] to the court. | ||
* [[Sonia Sotomayor]], was appointed in 2009 by [[Barack Obama]]. She is the first Hispanic and only the third woman to serve on the Court. | * [[Sonia Sotomayor]], was appointed in 2009 by [[Barack Obama]]. She is the first Hispanic and only the third woman to serve on the Court. | ||
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==Supreme Court Justices== | ==Supreme Court Justices== | ||
{{Image|Justices full.jpg|right|250px|The 2006 Court.}} | |||
[[Supreme Court of the United States/Catalogs/Justices|See catalog]]. | [[Supreme Court of the United States/Catalogs/Justices|See catalog]]. | ||
Revision as of 11:50, 19 September 2020
The Supreme Court of the United States of America is the highest federal court in the United States. It consists of nine justices, including a Chief Justice and eight associate justices. Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Article Three of the U.S. Constitution defines the original and appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which includes appeals of federal and state cases and trials of cases where a State or foreign ambassador is a party, although the Eleventh Amendment somewhat limits the jurisdiction of federal courts. There is no constitutional specification of how many justices make up the Court, and Congress increased the number as the nation grew.
History
Establishment
The Supreme Court is the only court that is provided for specifically in the Constitution, which, in Article III section 1, vests the United States government's judicial power in "one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
In the Judiciary Act of 1789, Congress determined that the Supreme Court would consist of a chief justice and five associate justices. The Supreme Court justices would meet in the national capital for two sessions each year and, when not in session, "ride circuit" to serve on intermediate appellate courts in the rest of the country.
From the John Jay Court to the John Marshall Court
The Taney Court
The Chase Court and the Waite Court
Melvin W. Fuller, Edward D. White, and William Howard Taft
The 1930s and FDR’s Court-Packing Plan
Earl Warren and Warren Burger
The Rehnquist Court
The Current Court
The current Chief Justice is John G. Roberts, Jr., whom George W. Bush appointed in September 2005. Roberts is a Harvard-trained lawyer and former Associate Counsel to the President.
The current associate Justices (in order of seniority) are:
- Anthony Kennedy, a 1988 Reagan appointee, is a conservative and libertarian member of the Court, often serving as the swing vote on controversial decisions.
- Clarence Thomas, a 1991 George H. W. Bush appointee, is the second African-American to serve on the Supreme Court after Thurgood Marshall, and has a conservative judicial philosophy, adhering to originalism.
- Stephen Breyer, a 1994 Clinton appointee, and the leading liberal Justice on the court.
- Samuel Alito, a 2006 George W. Bush appointee, a conservative Catholic, nominated after Bush failed to nominate Harriet Miers to the court.
- Sonia Sotomayor, was appointed in 2009 by Barack Obama. She is the first Hispanic and only the third woman to serve on the Court.
- Elena Kagan, appointed in 2010 by Barack Obama, is a former dean of the Harvard Law School and former U.S. Solicitor General in the Obama administration.
- Neil Gorsuch
- Brett Kavanaugh
Sandra Day O'Connor (b. 1930) was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court; she was appointed in 1981 and retired in 2006. The second was Ruth Bader Ginsburg (appointed 1993; 1933-2020).
