Supreme Court Reflection

The Supreme Court of the United States

By: Derek McGannon

Media Law and Literacy 1450

    The Supreme Court Of The United States (SCOTUS) found its establishment in the third article of the Constitution. It is the most powerful court in all of the United States and the decisions made there are precedents used in every other court in the land. 

    Learning about SCOTUS has been very interesting because I thought I knew a lot about it but there is so much more. It was actually George Washington who signed the Judiciary act into law and organized six judges who would serve for life. I did not realize that the supreme court has been around since the very beginning and that it did not always have nine justices. It was actually not until 1869 that the court would see nine justices, but according to History.com, the number has changed 6 times in total from as low as 5 to as high as six. 

    One thing I found surprising is that the first case handled by the court was not the crazy political battles we see on the news today, rather it was a debt dispute between a farmer and another family. This was surprising to me because Certiorari has been around for so long the court probably would not have taken this case in America today. Today the Supreme court hears 100-150 out of the 7,000 that are appealed to the supreme level. 

    The video truly showed me how independent the court is from the government. The Justices meet and decide what cases they are going to hear, they do their own work, and they make their own decisions. They are not like every other politician. I believe that the congressmen and women are sometimes puppets and supreme court judges are not as tied to parties or government figures. Now, they are nominated by presidents and are thought to be affiliated but true justices are not biased. 

    Below is a photo of me having the privilidge of meeting North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Micheal Morgan. State Supreme Courts are not the same as SCOTUS in national power but they are very similar in form. There are justices that rule at the state level on state constitutions. I had the honor of interviewing for an hour before he showed me the court room and deliberation room. On the other side of the wall behind their podium seats is the room they discuss in. It is similar for SCOTUS. There they have access to laws and prior rulings and precedents. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity I will never forget.