Supreme Court

Understanding the Role of the Supreme Court

Watching the video about the Supreme Court taught me several traditions and rules that I was unsure of before. One surprising fact was that each Justice is responsible for different cases, which helps distribute power evenly among them. The Supreme Court consists of nine judges discuss different decisions to make that can either benefit or hurt ones life. The Supreme Court plays such a significant role in ensuring that the fairness and equality for each case will be presented to society. They have the power to give directives to the states, Congress, and the president about what they may and cannot do. According to the Supreme Court video, they meet weekly to decide which cases to take each week out of the 100 they receive each week, and before each meeting, every Justice shakes each others hand. This tradition ensures  mutual respect between each Justice, even when they disagree. In these meetings, everyone speaks once before anyone can speak twice, making sure all voices are heard. 

The idea that oral arguments are essentially a discussion between the Justices with attorneys serving as middlemen intrigued me. The public is informed by broadcast or print announcements when a case is verified by the Court. The "Real Case or Controversy" rule, which states that the court only considers actual disputes rather than hypothetical ones, is another important consideration. 

The most important lesson I learned is that every Justice has distinct duties that contribute to upholding justice. I didn't know how intricate the American legal system is or how much work goes into maintaining justice until I moved here from Europe. I was able to see in this film how the Justices collaborate to make rulings that strike a balance between equality and respect.