1. U.S. Supreme Court

2. Called the “high court” and last court of appeal *** only court specifically mentioned by the Constitution 2 Types of Jurisdiction 1) Original A) cases involving diplomats from foreign countries B) cases involving a state as a party 2) Appellate Must be heard in lower courts and brought by appeal

3. Requirements to serve: Appointed by the President Confirmed by the Senate (simple majority) Length of term: Life *****Pay can never be reduced In theory- This creates an independent judiciary that is free from political pressures

4. Confirming a justice 1) Nomination The President, after consultation with advisers, submits a nomination to the Senate. 2) Investigations The FBI, the American Bar Association, and the Senate Judiciary Committee staff conduct investigations of the nominee’s professional and private life. Special interest groups and the press also bring out information about the nominee.

5. 3) Senate Hearings The Senate Judiciary Committee holds public hearings to interview the nominee and hear testimony from his or her critics and supporters. 4) Senate Voting Senate Judiciary Committee votes whether to recommend the nominee to the full Senate. If recommended, the Senate then votes to confirm or reject the nominee.

6. 9 Members: 1 Chief justice 8 Associate Justices # of members has stayed the same since 1869 Congress has the power to change the # (FDR plan) Who are the current justices??

7. US Supreme Court Justices John Paul Stevens Born: April 20, 1920 Education: A.B., Univ. of Chicago; J.D., Northwestern Univ. School of Law Joined: 1975 nominated by Gerald Ford Religion: Protestant *** Would have needed to serve until 2012 to set record for longevity but retired on June 29, 2010

8. Antonin Scalia Born: March 11, 1936 Education: A.B., Georgetown University and Univ. of Fribourg, Switz. LL.B., Harvard Law School Joined: 1986 nominated by Ronald Reagan Religion: Roman Catholic

9. Anthony Kennedy Born: July 23, 1936 Education: B.A., Stanford University and the London School of Economics LL.B. Harvard Law School Joined: 1988 nominated by Ronald Reagan Religion: Roman Catholic

10. Clarence Thomas Born: June 23, 1948 Education: A.B., Holy Cross College J.D., Yale Law School Joined: 1991 nominated by George H.W. Bush Religion: Roman Catholic

11. Ruth Bader Ginsberg Born: March 15, 1933 Education: B.A., Cornell University LL.B., Columbia Law School Joined: 1993 nominated by Bill Clinton Religion: Jewish

12. Stephen Breyer Born: August 15, 1938 Education: A.B. Stanford University B.A., Magdalen College at Oxford University LL.B., Harvard Law School Joined: 1994 nominated by Bill Clinton Religion: Jewish

13. Samuel Alito Born: April 1, 1950 Education: B.A. Princeton University J.D. Yale Law School Joined: 2006 nominated by George W. Bush Religion: Roman Catholic

14. Sonia Sotomayor Born: June 25, 1954 Education: B.A., Princeton University J.D., Yale Law School Joined: August 8, 2009 nominated by Barack Obama 1 st Hispanic, 3 rd Female Religion: Roman Catholic

15. Elena Kagan Born: April 28, 1960 Education: B.A. Princeton Univ. J.D., Harvard Law Joined: August 7, 2010 nominated by Barack Obama 4 th Female Religion: Jewish

16. John G. Roberts, Jr. Chief Justice Born: January 27, 1955 Education: A.B. Harvard University J.D. Harvard Law School Joined: 2005 nominated by George W. Bush Religion: Roman Catholic