The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest authority in the country's judicial system, standing alongside the executive and legislative branches in the federal government.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
In the US, nine unelected justices can shape some of the most personal and political parts of our lives. But the Supreme Court wasn’t always this powerful. When it was first written into the Constitution, it had no clear authority, no real role, and little public respect.
The Supreme Court established the concept of “separate but equal” in its 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision. The Court ruled that segregation laws by state and local governments were legal, which enabled decades of discrimination against Black Americans. This doctrine was eventually overruled by the court’s monumental Brown v. Board of Education decision. It ruled that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. This Cornell Law School page explores both cases, their background, and their eventual impact on American society.
Birthright citizenship is a century-old policy in the US allowing any child born on native US soil to automatically become a US citizen. This policy avoids creating a class of individuals who are born in the country but who are not technically citizens. In recent years, the policy has come under question from administrations seeking to limit immigration to the US.
Former US Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia had a friendship that fascinated the country. The unsuspecting bond formed between people on two opposing ends of the political spectrum even inspired an opera titled “Scalia/Ginsburg” by composer Derrick Wang.
This page from the US Supreme Court's official website outlines the Court's operational framework. It details the annual term's structure, alternating between "sittings" for hearing cases and "recesses" for deliberation and opinion writing. Head here for a description of the protocols for oral argument, the court’s decision-making processes, and the Justices' continuous responsibilities.
While most government leaders have limits to how long they can lead, the United States Supreme Court is a rare exception. The US Constitution established life terms for the country's highest judges, ostensibly to insulate the institution from political pressures associated with campaigning or as a quid pro quo for a brief appointment. Dive into the debate around this controversial US policy with this brief write-up.
SCOTUSblog is a go-to source for in-depth, nonpartisan coverage of the US Supreme Court. Founded in 2002, it offers expert analysis from lawyers, professors, and journalists. The blog provides clear and unbiased explanations of major cases, real-time decision updates, and insights into court nominations and trends.
First Amendment litigator and law blogger Ken White hosts this podcast exploring the background of the most important First Amendment cases in American history. Case topics include inflammatory and defamatory speech, freedom of speech for students, and more. Whether you're a legal nerd or just curious about your rights, this podcast breaks it down in an engaging and accessible way.
Photography and video are prohibited in the Supreme Court, but artists are not. That has resulted in a uniquely expressive visual tradition of capturing oral arguments in the nation’s highest courts, highlights of which can be viewed in this gallery.
The Supreme Court of the United States serves as the highest authority in the nation's judicial system, overseeing legal interpretations and rulings on constitutional matters. Its official webpage provides access to the court’s schedule, historical background, and recent decisions. Visitors can also find official documents related to court proceedings, along with details on how to visit the court in person and observe its operations firsthand.