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.
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.
In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, frustrated by the Supreme Court's rulings against his New Deal programs, proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill, an effort to appoint additional justices sympathetic to his policies. This move, widely criticized as "court-packing," ultimately failed. This article from Smithsonian Magazine explores this pivotal clash between the executive and judicial branches, offering insights into the constitutional crisis and its implications for American democracy.
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.
In over 220 years, roughly 115 people have held the office of justice on the Supreme Court. Seventeen of those were chief justices, the body’s formal leader. The first African-American justice was Thurgood Marshall in 1967, and the first woman was Sandra Day O’Connor in 1981.
The Supreme Court has a long history of shaping the legal landscape of the United States. The eras of the Court are often referred to by the Chief Justice's name. The Supreme Court Historical Society provides a comprehensive overview of each "Court," detailing the impact and decisions during the tenures of various Chief Justices.
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.
Over two decades after Brown v. Board of Education, Runyon v. McCrary banned the segregation academies, forcing them to admit non-white students or shut down.
In West Virginia v. EPA, the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that the EPA exceeded its authority by requiring industry-wide carbon cuts. Chief Justice Roberts' opinion invoked the "major questions" doctrine, which limits the ability of federal agencies to act without explicit congressional approval.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the structure of the US federal judiciary, creating a six-member Supreme Court, district courts, and circuit courts. It delineated the jurisdiction of these courts and outlined the relationship between state and federal courts. For a comprehensive explanation and the full transcript of the bill, head to this page from the National Archives.
Court packing is the practice of altering the number of Supreme Court justices, typically to shift the court's ideological balance. The US Constitution doesn't specify the number of justices; this is determined by Congress. Historically, the court's size has varied, notably during the Civil War era. This page from the National Constitution Center explores the times presidents attempted to “pack the court,” including an unsuccessful attempt by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937.