History and Workings of the U.S. Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. The decisions that are made in the court set the precedent for domestic and sometimes even international issues for decades to come. While being in the public's purview for much of their work, many Americans have little idea in the ways the court actually functions. Through parts I and II of the informational video, I had the ability to learning about the Supreme Courts procedural conduct. It was enlightening to discovered that the deliberation of the court are done in private, without the assistance of staffers or looming reporters. This came as my biggest surprise since the court hears arguments in their public chamber. I had expected an outcome to be reached in that same public setting for the highest levels of transparency and lowest levels of bias. I then learned that after deliberations and an outcome has been reached, either the chief justice if in the majority, or the senior most member of the majority will construct an opinion to be released to the public explaining the reasoning behind their decision. After analyzing the circumstances at hand, I now see that the release of an opinion paper provides the public with the justifications they wish to hear, while ensuring the strictest confidentiality and greatest amount of equal justice input during deliberations.

When looking in metaphysical notion of the Supreme Courts power, it is apparent that their most important duty is the responsibility of drawing the lines of government power. The justices have the duty of telling federal and state legislators what they can and cannot do. This power is essential in the US system of checks and balances as the Supreme Court is the highest court in the US system, it is responsible for ensuring the equal distribution of power. If this liberty of the court was not in place, either the Legislative or Executive branches could usurp power form the others. 

Current sitting justices of the Supreme Court

Surprisingly, while the Supreme Court has the power to maintain the system of checks and balances, these cases must be brought to their attention. This is because the Supreme Court does not have the power to bring any social or political issue to their own attention, the case must be brought before them by a member of the government or a private citizen. As the court is brought seven to eight thousand cases annually, they will only hear oral arguments for about eighty of these. This is because the Supreme Court Justices will argue which cases they wish to hear as they pertain to national significance. In arguments, the justices can also decide not to hear your case at all after its appeal from the circuit courts. This leads to many more cases unheard than heard, but the system ensures the cases that do take up the time of the justices will impact the greatest number of Americans. 

While the US Supreme Court Justices are tasked with some of the most significant decision in the United States, it was clear after seeing the justices interact in the videos to remember that the justices are citizens too, just as you and I. This message was evermore clear when we heard of the group's tradition of shaking hands with each other before the start of deliberations. It was explained that this harmonious shaking of one another's hands makes it more difficult for the justices to take their anger or dissatisfaction with a case out on the rest of the group after an outcome has been reached. This showed me as a private citizen that the justices do not wish to fight with one another, instead they wish to reach the best decisions for the nation.