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| The US Supreme Court Building. |
One of the most interesting points in the documentary was its description of the U.S. Supreme Court as the most powerful judicial branch in the world. Just over 100 justices have served on the Court.
The Court is repeatedly called upon to draw the lines of power. Its decisions determine how the Constitution applies when disputes reach its doors.
John Marshall was presented as a major figure in the Court’s history. Known for Marbury v. Madison, he strengthened the Court and upheld the Constitution during his leadership.
But the Court’s history also includes serious failures.
The Dred Scott decision is remembered as the Court’s “self-inflicted wound.” The documentary connected the Court’s responsibility with the principle that due process cannot be denied to an American citizen.
The justices must interpret a Constitution written more than 200 years ago. Although they may have different views, they share the objective of deciding the cases brought before them.
The number of cases was surprising. The Court receives more than 100 every week but accepts only about 100 fully reviewed cases each year.
The justices cannot arrive in the morning and simply choose a public problem to address. They must wait for people to bring issues to the Court, and when those issues eventually knock, the Court responds.
Each side is allowed 30 minutes to present its position, creating an hour of oral argument. I found it interesting that rhetoric can make a difference because the way a case is presented may influence the Court’s consideration.
After oral arguments, all nine justices meet privately in their chambers. Someone writes the Court’s reasoning and legal foundation, while any justice may write a separate opinion.
That writing may go through a dozen or more drafts as a justice tries to persuade others to join an opinion. Once the work is complete, the opinions are released to the press.
The documentary’s final point surprised me most: the Court’s power depends on earned trust and, ultimately, the trust of the American people
AI DISCLAIMER: This Post was made in collaboration with Microsoft Copilot. All information is factual and backed up by real sources from real documentaries.
