1. Part of the Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court
Part of the Judicial Branch

2. Basics of the Supreme Court
Part of the Judicial Branch
9 justices on the Supreme Court (8 judges and 1 Chief Justice)
Court is on a equal plane with President and Congress (framers of the Constitution)
1981 first woman- Sandra Day O’Connor
1967 first African-America- Thurgood Marshall
Justices serve for life
President appoints, Congress has to approve

3. Where do the cases come from?
8,000 cases are appealed to the Supreme Court each year
Court operates from the 1st Monday in October- June or July
Rule of 4- 4 judges must agree to put a case on the docket
Writ of mandamus- a court order telling a government officer to perform an act that they have legal duty to perform

4. How does a case get to the Supreme Court?
4 judges have to agree to hear a case
Writ of Certiorari- a writ from a high court to a low one to get the records of the proceedings to review
If 4 or more judges do not agree, the lower court ruling stands
If a lower court is unsure of the rule of law that should apply to the case they issue a certificate
If they agree they hear the oral arguments, accept the case and set a date

5. What happens during a court session?
1st two weeks- justices hold public sessions and they listen to the facts of several cases (lawyers present, justices listen and question) (30 minutes)
2nd two weeks- justices study the facts of the case (lawyers give them briefs about the case) Called a recess or court in conference

6. What’s the Vote? Decisions are reached by a majority vote
Six justices must be present to call for a vote
After the Court has voted, it writes an opinion ( a carefully worded statement that explains why the decision was made)
1/3 of decisions are unanimous, most are divided

7. What are the type of opinions?
Majority Opinion- Announces the Court’s decision of the case and why they voted the way they did
Precedents- Examples to be followed in similar cases
Concurring Opinion- Other justices may right this if a point of theirs was not made in the majority opinion
Dissenting Opinion- Written by those justices who do not agree with the Court’s decision