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.
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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.
In a majority opinion, Justice James C. McReynolds wrote, “The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only.”
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.
The Dred Scott decision was a landmark 1857 US Supreme Court case that denied African Americans citizenship and upheld the legality of slavery. This page from Encyclopedia Britannica explores the case, providing information on Dred Scott and his case before the Supreme Court. Explore the implications of one of the most important cases in the history of the court.
In a 2009 conversation, former Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen G. Breyer lay out competing approaches to constitutional interpretation—Scalia’s textualist, strict constructionism versus Breyer’s evolutionary view of the Constitution in practice.
What is the link between campaign finance and political influence in the United States? In 2010, the Supreme Court made a controversial decision that allowed wealthy donors and corporations to further influence US politics. The ruling, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions. As a result, corporations and other outside groups could spend unlimited funds on elections. Ultimately, some fear that the Citizens United decision has had negative repercussions for American democracy and in the fight against political corruption. This explainer outlines the main facts around Citizens United.
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.
This webpage from the Supreme Court Historical Society offers an in-depth look at the nine justices currently serving on the US Supreme Court. It provides detailed biographies, including their legal backgrounds and career paths. Visitors can also listen to audio clips of each justice speaking during court proceedings, offering insight into their judicial reasoning and courtroom demeanor.
"Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time."
In 1908, the Supreme Court convicted a Tennessee sheriff, his deputy, and four civilians for their role in defying the court’s execution stay two years before. The group lynched Ed Johnson—a Black man believed to be innocent who was nonetheless convicted of rape—after the court ordered him not to be executed.