1. The Federal Court System
“Equal Justice Under the Law”

2. What is the Supreme Court?
“Highest Court in the Land”
“The Court of last resort”
The only court created in the Constitution

3. What Does the Court Do? Has the power of Judicial Review
Hears cases in two ways:
1. Original Jurisdiction – these
cases go directly to the Supreme
Court
- When one state sues another
- Cases involving ambassadors
2. Appellant Jurisdiction – cases
appealed to the Supreme Court
- first heard in lower courts
- Cases that deal with
constitutional issues

4. Pennsylvania Court System

5. U.S. Court System

6. How a Case Reaches the U.S. Supreme Court
7. The Supreme Court
Federal State
6. Circuit Court of Appeals
5. District Courts
4. PA Supreme Court (Harrisburg)
3. Commonwealth Court or
PA Superior Court (Phila., Pitts., Harris.)
2. Court of Common Pleas (Chambersburg)
1. Special (District) Court – Dwayne Cunningham

7. Circuit Court of Appeals1 4

8. How Many Cases Are Heard?
1,000s of cases presented each year
A few years ago: 120 are heard
This year: 55 cases
Inside the Supreme Court Law Library, Washington, D.C.

9. How Does the Court Pick the Cases It Will Hear?
Rule of Four –
If 4 out of 9 judges agree to hear a case, then it will be heard.
Judges’ Conference Room

10. The Court Picks Cases To set a new direction
That have significant impact on American Society
That the judges believe represent a clear injustice
When they believe the Constitution may have been violated
That the lower courts may have decided incorrectly

11. How are Opinions Handled?
Oral arguments are heard
Case is reviewed in private
Court issues its’ opinion—several months after the case is heard

12. Three Types of Opinions
Majority Opinion - the official opinion of the court
Dissenting Opinion - disagrees with the main opinion; explains why
Concurring Opinion - agrees with the majority or dissenting, but for different reasons

13. The Current Supreme Court Justices
The Robert’s Court

14. How is the Court Organized?
1 Chief Justice: John Roberts
8 Associate Justices: 5 men
& 3 woman
Female Justices:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
appointed by Clinton (1993)
Sonia Sotomayor appointed
by Obama (2009)
Elena Kagan appointed by
Obama (2010)
Sandra Day O’Connor first
female Justice; appointed by
Reagan (1981) retired