The Supreme Court

1. The Supreme Court Highest Court in the U.S.

2. About the Court • Created to interpret (explain) the Constitution. • Judicial Review: Cases looked over to see if they are Constitutional/ Un-Constitutional Nine Justices (8 Associate Justices, 1 Chief Justice)( 1st S.C. there were 6 Judges) • Chief Justice today: John Roberts • Their decision is final (no Court above them)

3. Cases heard by S.C. • Supreme Court has Original and Appellate Jurisdiction. (Power: Cases go straight to S.C.) • Appellate Courts have: Appellate Jurisdiction: Hear case being appealed • District Courts have: Original Jurisdiction: Hear case first • They choose which cases they want to hear Over 7000 cases submitted per year—they only hear about 200 (1 in every 35)

4. Deciding a Case • No witnesses in Supreme Court • They read notes from previous cases and hear lawyer arguments • Vote, majority vote wins • They write essay on majority opinion and dissenting (disagreeing) opinion

5. Other stuff • Chief Justice makes $208,000/year • Associate Justices make $199,000/year • The youngest Supreme Court appointee was Joseph Story (32). First Chief Justice John Jay • First Woman Justice: Sandra Day O’Connor (1981-2006) • First African American Justice: Thurgood Marshall (1967-1991) • The oldest sitting justice was Oliver Wendell Holmes, who served until he was 90

6. Members • Chief Justice of the United States…………JOHN G. ROBERTS, JR. • Associate Justice • John Paul Stevens • Antonin Scalia Anthony M. Kennedy • David H. Souter • Clarence Thomas • Ruth Bader Ginsburg • Stephen G. Breyer • Samuel A. Alito, Jr. • Retired Justice………………..………………… SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR